Celiac Disease and Neuropathy
 

Hi,

Can anyone tell me how having Celiac Disease causes Neuropathy?

Appreciate any information.
BonDon

BonDon
 

Hi! I'm new here so I really don't know too much but I suffer from symptoms of neuropathy so I have done a lot of research. What I believe I have read is that it has something to do with the gluten damaging the intestines and causing nutrient deficiencies. This damages your nerve cells and causes neuropathy. I think a gluten free diet is the best way to go. I hope this helps for now, but I am certain someone else will know more about it. Best of luck to you!

This is a very readable explanation from Dr. Latov:

http://www.enabling.org/ia/celiac/do...%20article.pdf

This is the link to the Gluten File online neuropathy section:

https://sites.google.com/site/jccglu...eralneuropathy

There are actually two different mecahnisms--
 

--by which celiac disease may cause neuropathy (and a host of other neuropathic conditions).

The first is the obvious one described here--villous atrophy leads to malabsorption of essential nutrients and deficiencies, which starves nerves (and other body tissues).

But there is also mounting evidence that the gluten peptides, in those with susceptibility due to genetic background, can result in the production of antibodies that cross react with certain components of peripheral nerve. This autoimmune attack can damage the nerves, and it also may damage certain parts of the brain, especially the cerebellum--gluten ataxia, for example, is thought to result from this process mediated through damage to Purkinje cells. This can get biochemically complicated to explain--the Gluten File has a number of articles about it, of which this is relatively representative:

http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/126/3/685.full

Also, take a look at:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077388/

https://sites.google.com/site/jccglu...eralneuropathy

update on cd and pn
 

I have been a member for a while. I have had idiopathic sensory dominant pn for 10 years. I am 68. A lumbar puncture 2 years ago revealed elevated protein levels (65) and my neurologist diagnosed sensory dominant CIDP and began Ivig. After one year my nerves studies showed some improvement, although slight. About 6 mos ago my internist decided to test me for CD. I tested positive for one celiac disease anti-body as well as positive for cd genetic marker. After When I told my neurologist he said "You know we (referring to neurologist) do not routinely test for this, but I certainly will from now on." It was an "ah ha" moment for him and I was impressed with receptivity. I have since been on a glutin-free diet, however, with little improvement. I have always found mrsD's threads to be extremely informative and wondering if you could point me toward any updated research,(2011-2013) especially by Dr. Latov, related to the relationship between CE and PN.

Much of the current research into gluten sensitivity and celiac--
 

--since it is now established that this is a much more common entity than originally supposed, though still suffereing from some pooh-poohing about "trendiness" among many physicians, has been directed towards finding some more sensitive and accurate serological markers of celiac, such as looking for deamidated antibodies. There is also a lot of interest now in epidemiological surveys to explain what seems to be a rising incidence over the last half-century (many suspect genetic modification of gluten containing grains), and, of course, the pharmaceutical people are working on drugs to attempt to block the absorption or effect of gluten proteins in the intestine.

I still think The Gluten File is the best place to see ongoing articles, as it is updated frequently (although now JCC notes updates often wind up on Facebook first):

https://sites.google.com/site/jccglutenfree/home

Another thing one can do is set one's e-mail program to cull news alerts with such words as "celiac" and "gluten" in them. While this does bring in a lot of celebrity stuff, it also pulls in reports of studies and one can then follow these to their sources.

For instance, here's a conference in Chicago at which I'm sure a lot will be shared:

http://www.news-medical.net/news/201...ICDS-2013.aspx

Or, one can always search through PubMed:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=celiac