Linear IgA disease and ulcerative colitis

Linear IgA disease is an acquired bullous disease of the skin characterized by linear IgA deposits along the dermal-epidermal junction. Inflammatory bowel diseases have been rarely reported in association with linear IgA disease. We have recently observed a patient suffering from ulcerative colitis who developed a cutaneous bullous eruption that was diagnosed as a linear IgA disease. Foreign antigens penetrating the inflamed bowel mucosa might give rise to the production of autoantibodies cross-reacting with the cutaneous antigens involved in the pathogenesis of linear IgA disease.