Skin test for gluten-sensitive enteropathy using subfractions of gluten.

Fractions and subfractions of gluten were used for intradermal testing in 14 patients with GSE and in 22 control subjects. Twelve out of 14 GSE patients gave positive skin reactions to one or more of the subfractions of gluten. Ten gave a positive reaction between three to eight hours after skin testing; two gave positive tests 20 minutes after injection. Only two out of the 14 had negative skin tests at all times tested. All 22 control subjects were negative to all the subfractions at all times tested. The control subjects consisted of 15 patients with GI disorders other than GSE, three patients with skin disorders other than dermatitis herpetiformis and four healthy controls. Of the three subfractions tested, subfraction B1 appeared most potent in evoking positive skin reactions as judged by the number of GSE patients who responded (11 of 14). Thus, skin testing individuals with this particular portion of gluten subfraction BA may prove to be a useful diagnostic test for GSE.