Neurological abnormalities associated with celiac disease

Byline: Adi Vaknin (1), Rami Eliakim (2), Zvi Ackerman (3), Israel Steiner (1) Keywords: celiac disease; neurological abnormalities; epilepsy; immune mediated peripheral neuropathy; down syndrome Abstract: Abstract Background Celiac disease (CD) is a gluten-sensitive enteropathy in genetically susceptible individuals. Anecdotal reports suggest that the nervous system might be affected in the disorder, but the severity and prevalence of such an involvement have not been systematically evaluated. Materials and methods Analysis of files of CD patients diagnosed between 1980 and 1999 for neurological abnormalities. Diagnosis of CD was based on the modified criteria of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. Results Of 148 CD patients, 18 (12%) had 21 neurological disorders that could not be attributed to any other condition including muscle abnormality (3), epilepsy (3), psychiatric disease (4), peripheral neuropathy (3), cerebrovascular disease (1), myelopathy (1) and Down syndrome (2). Other disorders probably unrelated to CD were present in 8 patients. Conclusion If this association is not coincidental, both the central and the peripheral nervous systems may be affected in CD by a spectrum of neurological disorders that are either the outcome of CD or share the same pathogenesis with the enteropathy. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Neurology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel (2) Department of Gastroenterology, Rambam Medical Center, P. O. Box 960, Haifa, 31096 (3) Department of Medicine, Hadassah Mount Scopus Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel Article History: Registration Date: 01/01/2004 Received Date: 12/10/2003 Accepted Date: 10/05/2004