Seemingly Innocuous Virus Can Trigger Celiac Disease

Pittsburgh: Infection with reovirus, a common but otherwise harmless virus, can trigger the immune system response to gluten that may lead to celiac disease, according to new research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the University of Chicago.The study, published in the April 7 issue of Science, further implicates viruses in the development of autoimmune disorders such as celiac disease and type 1 diabetes, and raises the possibility that vaccines could one day be used to prevent these diseases.

Twenty Percent of Children with Celiac Disease Do Not Heal on a Gluten-Free Diet

Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition: Even after a year on a gluten-free diet, nearly 20 percent of children with celiac disease continue to have intestinal abnormalities (enteropathy) on repeat biopsies, reports a study in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, official journal of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition  and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

Increased Risk of Neuropathy in Patients with Celiac Disease

JAMA: Celiac disease, which results from a sensitivity to gluten, was associated with a 2.5-fold increased risk of neuropathy (nerve damage), according to an article published online by JAMA Neurology. Celiac disease is common in the general population with an estimated prevalence of 1 percent. The association between celiac disease and neuropathy was first reported nearly 50 years ago, according to the study background. Jonas F. Ludvigsson, M.D., Ph.D., of the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and coauthors examined the risk of developing neuropathy in a nationwide sample of patients in Sweden with biopsy-certified celiac disease.

Five gene variants play important role in development coeliac disease

Groningen: Five novel gene variants appear to play an important role in the development of coeliac disease, a common autoimmune disorder. These variants together account for 18% of the genetics of coeliac disease. This is the conclusion of a large-scale study led by geneticists Cisca Wijmenga from the UMCG and Paul de Bakker from the UMC Utrecht. This knowledge makes it possible to predict with increasing accuracy which patients are at risk of developing coeliac disease. In total, the researchers have now elucidated 48% of the genetic factors contributing to coeliac disease. The study has been published in the leading journal Nature Genetics of 20 April.

Ongoing dietary challenges for New Zealanders with coeliac disease

University of Otago (New-Zealand):  researchers have completed the first national survey of people with coeliac disease in New Zealand and found that many experience ongoing health challenges despite adhering to treatments.

Celiac disease (in short)

Authors:  Wolfgang Holtmeier and Wolfgang F Caspary. Orphanet Journal of rare Diseases

• Celiac (or coeliac) disease is a chronic intestinal disease caused by intolerance to gluten (a protein that is found in some cereals). 
• It is characterized by immune-mediated enteropathy (auto-immune disease), associated with maldigestion and malabsorption of most nutrients and vitamins. 
• In predisposed individuals, the ingestion of gluten-containing food such as wheat barley, triticale and rye induces a flat jejunal mucosa with infiltration of lymphocytes. 
• The main symptoms are: stomach pain, gas, and bloating, diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, edema, bone or joint pain. 
• Frequency of celiac disease varies from 1:270 in Finland to 1:5000 in North America. 
• Since celiac disease can be asymptomatic (without any symptom), most subjects are not diagnosed or they can present with atypical symptoms. Furthermore, severe inflammation of the small bowel can be present without any gastrointestinal symptoms. 
• The diagnosis should be made early since celiac disease causes growth retardation in untreated children and atypical symptoms like infertility or neurological symptoms. 
• Diagnosis requires endoscopy with jejunal biopsy. 
• In addition, tissue-transglutaminase antibodies (blood sample) are important to confirm the diagnosis since there are other diseases which can mimic celiac disease. 
• The exact cause of celiac disease is unknown but is thought to be primarily immune mediated (tissue-transglutaminase autoantigen); often the disease is inherited. 
• Management consists in life long withdrawal of dietary gluten, which leads to significant clinical and histological improvement. However, complete normalization of histology (the microscopic study of tissues) can take years.

Celiac disease

 

Authors:  Wolfgang Holtmeier and Wolfgang F Caspary. Orphanet Journal of rare Diseases

Definition

Celiac disease is a chronic intestinal disease mostly associated with malabsorption caused by intolerance to gluten. It is characterized by immune-mediated enteropathy (villous flattening), resulting in maldigestion and malabsorption. Clinical and histological improvement can be obtained after withdrawal of dietary gluten.

A natural protein, Elafin against gluten intolerance?

Source: INSERM and American Journal of Gastroenterology

Scientists from INRA and INSERM (France) in collaboration with scientists from McMaster University (Canada) and the Ecole polytechnique fédérale of Zurich (Switzerland) have shown that Elafin, a human protein, plays a key role against the inflammatory reaction typical of celiac disease (gluten intolerance).

Celiac disease

Author : Henry J. Binder, M.D. Professor of Medicine Yale School of Medicine

2008-07-28

Introduction

Celiac Disease is a common autoimmune disorder of the small intestine with manifestations that may also involve a variety of different organ systems (e.g., bone, blood) resulting in a significant spectrum of symptoms. The autoimmune response has a known environmental trigger – gliadin - the subfraction of gluten responsible for initiation of the tissue damage that occurs in Celiac Disease. Gluten is found in many grains, including wheat, rye, and barley. Celiac Disease was once considered primarily a pediatric disease associated with diarrhea and so-called malabsorption (i.e., decreased absorption of one or more nutrients) but is now known to be present in perhaps 1% of the world-wide population, across all ages, who may or may not have intestinal symptoms or who may not have any symptoms at all.