Other autoimmune disorders or some complications like peripheral neuropathy can still occur. However, studies have shown that the worst complications, such as malignancies, are prevented after a few years on gluten-free diet, meaning that their occurrence is not higher than expected in the general population.
(Updated .)Categorized: Celiac Disease Associations
How does having one autoimmune disorder put you at greater risk for another?
We don’t yet know why having one autoimmune disorder puts you at greater risk for another. However, if you have one autoimmune disease you also have the genes for the others.
(Updated .)How do you treat neuropathy in someone with celiac disease?
A gluten-free diet has to be started in patients with celiac disease and neuropathy, regardless of whether neuropathy is caused by celiac disease or not. It is unclear, however, if the institution of the gluten-free diet results in improvement of celiac disease neuropathy. Vitamin and mineral supplementation may also be beneficial. The use of immunomodulatory… Read more »
(Updated .)How do you diagnose neuropathy in someone with celiac disease?
A nerve conduction study is generally used as the initial diagnostic step. However, the nerve conduction study is often normal in patients with an early neuropathy or a neuropathy that only involves the small fiber nerves. Quantitative sweat test and skin biopsy with measurement of intraepithelial nerve fiber density are other modalities that can be… Read more »
(Updated .)What is neuropathy?
Peripheral nerves can be divided into sensory, motor and autonomic, based on their function. The sensory nerves carry impulses from the nerve ending in the skin, muscle, or joints to the spinal cord and brain. On the other hand, the motor nerves extend from certain areas in the brain or spinal cord to different muscles…. Read more »
(Updated .)How does celiac disease neuropathy present?
The most common manifestation of celiac disease neuropathy is pain, tingling and numbness in the feet. Some patients present with asymmetrical sensory symptoms, or even pain in the face. Muscle weakness and autonomic symptoms are less common in celiac disease neuropathy. It is important to objectively prove the presence of neuropathy in patients with neuropathy… Read more »
(Updated .)Can celiac disease cause watery blisters on the skin?
Blisters on the skin (part of the dermatitis herpetiformis version of celiac disease) are an inflammatory result due to a deposition of anti-tTG antibodies in the skin. In fact, recent studies have demonstrated that IgA antibodies against epidermal transglutaminase 3 play an important role in the pathogenesis of dermatitis herpetiformis. See Nakajima K. Recent advances… Read more »
(Updated .)Can celiac disease cause a low white cell blood count?
Leukopenia, a decrease in the number of white blood cells, has been rarely reported in persons with celiac disease. The suggested mechanism is a deficiency of both folic acid and copper. Despite the scarcity of available data on the treatment of this condition, a gluten-free diet with folate or copper supplementation should be recommended for… Read more »
(Updated .)How long might it take for my son’s constipation to resolve once on a gluten-free diet?
It may take some time for constipation to resolve. However, please note that constipation is also a very common problem and can co-exist with celiac disease. If this is the case then the gluten-free diet won’t be beneficial. In either case, as long as he’s constipated you should address this problem aggressively.
(Updated .)Is shortness of breath in a child a symptom of celiac disease?
No, this is not a symptom of celiac disease.
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