Source (00:20)
Capsule Endoscopy Findings
Capsule endoscopy offers a detailed view of the entire digestive tract (see sample above). A Mayo Clinic study using capsule endoscopy showed that damage in the small intestine due to untreated celiac disease can vary significantly from patient to patient and not heal completely even after a year or more on a gluten-free diet. The degree of damage "did not explain differences in clinical presentation." (Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, CNNMoney.com)
Oral Manifestations
A meta-study found:
Dental enamel defects are the oral lesions most closely related to CD. There are conflicting data on the association between CD and recurrent aphthous stomatitis. A correlation of CD with atrophic glossitis has been reported, although robust evidence in support of it is lacking. Patients with CD have caries indexes seemingly lower than healthy individuals, but they may experience delay in tooth eruption. Occurrence of other oral mucosal lesions in CD subjects is likely occasional.and concluded that
Patients with systematic dental enamel defects should be screened for CD even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms. CD screening tests for patients with oral aphthae or idiopathic atrophic glossitis should be selectively considered during a medical evaluation that focuses on all aspects of the patient's status. (Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology)
Seniors
Israeli researchers identified a group of seven people with celiac disease who had been diagnosed after age 60 and saw signs of improvement in cognitive decline (previously attributed to Alzheimer's Disease) as well as other symptoms:
The most common presenting findings were weight loss, iron deficiency anemia, and diarrhea. Two patients suffered from severe early osteoperosis and 2 additional patients had elevated liver function tests. Neurologic manifestation was suspected in 3 cases. Two female patients presented with cognitive decline that was attributed to Alzheimer dementia but ameliorated after the initiation of gluten-free diet. The third patient had peripheral neuropathy that completely resolved after the initiation of gluten-free diet. Median lag in diagnosis was 8 years. Diet treatment led to complete resolution of symptoms in most cases and a significant weight gain.... (Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, NewsRx)Thanks to Michael Thorn
Posts
1 comment:
this is very interesting to me. I am 55 years old. My main and most disturbing symptom before going gluten free almost a year ago was uncontrollable chronic diarrhea. I had some sypmtoms of periphial neuropathy like tingling and numbness in my feet and lower legs, and my feet and legs hurt so bad all the time that I had to take pain releivers every night before going to bed. I do not have health insurance, so I have not been tested for celiac, but since I took gluten out of my diet ALL SYMPTOMS have disappeared.
I had just thought that my symptoms of periphial neurapthy could be contributed to inevitable consequences of diabetes.
My mother-in-law has severe periphial neurapathy, and I am now wondering if she may have celiac, but she will not even consider the possiblity because she is not a blood relative of mine. If we had known anything at all about celiac disease or gluten enteropathy 16 years ago, she might be a healthy woman today.
Post a Comment