Link between autoimmune disorders and psychosis confirmed in new study

TheConversation: People with autoimmune disorders, a collection of diseases where the body’s immune system attacks its own cells, are more likely to have psychosis, according to our latest research. Previous research found that rates of rheumatoid arthritis were lower in people with psychosis than would be expected in the general population. But later studies showed that other autoimmune disorders, such as coeliac disease and autoimmune thyroid disorders, were more common in people with psychosis. This led scientists to the view that there is a connection between autoimmune disorders and psychosis. But conflicting findings meant that it was difficult to reach any conclusions about the relationship.

Coeliac disease rate among young children has almost tripled in past 20 years

BMJ. UK: The number of young children diagnosed with coeliac disease in the UK has almost tripled over the past 20 years, but kids from poorer families are only half as likely to be diagnosed with the condition, reveals research published online in Archives of Disease in Childhood.

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.