Treating celiac disease may reverse liver failure

[Guest guest]

A friend forwarded this link: apparently it's possible to have undiagnosed

Celiac Disease where the ONLY SYMPTOM could be autoimmune liver diseases.

So you could have Celiac without having any of the typical Celiac symptoms.

Anybody hear anything about this or been tested for Celiac even without

symptoms? Any thoughts? Discuss.....

Kay

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_7278.html

> Treating Celiac Disease May Reverse Liver Failure

> Reuters Health

>

> Wednesday, April 24, 2002

>

> NEW YORK, Apr 24 (Reuters Health) - The gluten-free diet prescribed for

> the digestive disorder celiac disease may reverse liver failure in some

> patients with both conditions, new research suggests.

>

> And, the study authors say, the relatively high frequency of

> undiagnosed celiac disease among people with serious liver conditions

> suggests the disorder should be looked for in certain liver disease

> patients.

>

> The researchers, led by Dr. Katri Kaukinen of the University of Tampere

> in Finland, report their findings in the April issue of

> Gastroenterology.

>

> Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that damages the small intestine

> and interferes with the normal absorption of nutrients from food. It

> arises from an allergic reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat,

> rye and barley. The problem often goes undetected because many of its

> symptoms--such as abdominal pain, fatigue and diarrhea--are similar to

> a range of other disorders. **And some patients have no symptoms.**

>

> Celiac disease is also associated with other disorders caused by immune

> system dysfunction, including immune system-related liver diseases like

> autoimmune hepatitis.

>

> In their study of 185 patients who had received liver transplants,

> Kaukinen and colleagues found that eight patients--or just over 4%--had

> celiac disease. Two of these eight had not been diagnosed previously,

> and in five patients, the liver disorder had developed when their

> celiac disease was still undiagnosed. Only one had stuck to a long-term

> gluten-free diet before the liver transplant, according to the report.

>

> Moreover, in another four patients with advanced liver disease and

> untreated celiac disease, the investigators found that a gluten-free

> diet reversed patients' liver dysfunction. The two who have adhered to

> the diet remain in good condition, the researchers report. One patient

> who did not stick with the diet saw his liver disease progress and

> eventually had a liver transplant.

>

> According to Kaukinen's team, these findings suggest that in such

> patients, dietary intervention may prevent progression to liver

> failure.

>

> And, they point out, their finding that about 4% of liver transplant

> patients had celiac disease--usually associated with autoimmune liver

> disorders--indicates that celiac disease should be " rigorously

> investigated " in all patients with autoimmune hepatitis or hepatitis

> with no known cause.

>

> " In some cases, " they write, " early detection and treatment of celiac

> disease may prevent progression to end-stage liver failure. "

>

> SOURCE: Gastroenterology 2002;122:881-888.

>

> Copyright 2002 Reuters.

[Guest guest]

Kay, I have Celiac. I was diagnosed in October of 00. I have the skin counterpart of the disease too, called Dermatitis Herpitiformus. I was NOT dx with Celiac until I was ...welll....old! Anyway, I had DH for at least 24 years, if not longer. The doctors did not tell me of Celiac at the time, althought the DID tell me to stay gluten free. The diet then, though was not like it is now. Actually, I did not go gluten free because there is a medication that I can take to control the symptoms and not cut out all gluten. I did find out that the flours with a high gluten content like Gold Medal would cause me to break out, but that the cheap store brands would not, so I bought the cheap brands...OK with me and a young family.

I also discovered that one little grain of barley would cause me to break out too. Where I DID exhibit the symptoms, I did not LOOK the part of a celiac. In fact, only, I believe 5% of celiacs are obese and I unfortunately, am one of those. In fact, when I went to the doctor at the request of another doctor, the GI actually laughed at me. He said there was NO way that I had the disease. Well.....after the biopsy, HE was on the edge....he was quite surprised that I didn't fit the mold! Oh well....

Indeed, celiac CAN be present with AIH. But like some have said, it is very common that when you have one autoimmune you are likely to have another.

Are you thinking you have Celiac? I hope you don't, but if you do, there are plenty of places to purchase foods and supplies. I have had to change my eating ways, cooking, eating out, etc...even gripe at pharmacists to keep my meds gluten free....but I have to. I cannot let any gluten past my lips.....because when I do ingest gluten, I set off an autoimmune response that I am NOT willing to deal with when I can control it...at least control it the best I can!

debby

[ ] Fw: Treating Celiac Disease May Reverse Liver Failure

A friend forwarded this link: apparently it's possible to have undiagnosedCeliac Disease where the ONLY SYMPTOM could be autoimmune liver diseases.So you could have Celiac without having any of the typical Celiac symptoms.Anybody hear anything about this or been tested for Celiac even withoutsymptoms? Any thoughts? Discuss.....Kayhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_7278.html> Treating Celiac Disease May Reverse Liver Failure> Reuters Health>> Wednesday, April 24, 2002>> NEW YORK, Apr 24 (Reuters Health) - The gluten-free diet prescribed for> the digestive disorder celiac disease may reverse liver failure in some> patients with both conditions, new research suggests.>> And, the study authors say, the relatively high frequency of> undiagnosed celiac disease among people with serious liver conditions> suggests the disorder should be looked for in certain liver disease> patients.>> The researchers, led by Dr. Katri Kaukinen of the University of Tampere> in Finland, report their findings in the April issue of> Gastroenterology.>> Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that damages the small intestine> and interferes with the normal absorption of nutrients from food. It> arises from an allergic reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat,> rye and barley. The problem often goes undetected because many of its> symptoms--such as abdominal pain, fatigue and diarrhea--are similar to> a range of other disorders. **And some patients have no symptoms.**>> Celiac disease is also associated with other disorders caused by immune> system dysfunction, including immune system-related liver diseases like> autoimmune hepatitis.>> In their study of 185 patients who had received liver transplants,> Kaukinen and colleagues found that eight patients--or just over 4%--had> celiac disease. Two of these eight had not been diagnosed previously,> and in five patients, the liver disorder had developed when their> celiac disease was still undiagnosed. Only one had stuck to a long-term> gluten-free diet before the liver transplant, according to the report.>> Moreover, in another four patients with advanced liver disease and> untreated celiac disease, the investigators found that a gluten-free> diet reversed patients' liver dysfunction. The two who have adhered to> the diet remain in good condition, the researchers report. One patient> who did not stick with the diet saw his liver disease progress and> eventually had a liver transplant.>> According to Kaukinen's team, these findings suggest that in such> patients, dietary intervention may prevent progression to liver> failure.>> And, they point out, their finding that about 4% of liver transplant> patients had celiac disease--usually associated with autoimmune liver> disorders--indicates that celiac disease should be "rigorously> investigated" in all patients with autoimmune hepatitis or hepatitis> with no known cause.>> "In some cases," they write, "early detection and treatment of celiac> disease may prevent progression to end-stage liver failure.">> SOURCE: Gastroenterology 2002;122:881-888.>> Copyright 2002 Reuters.

[Guest guest]

Treating celiac disease may reverse liver failure

NEW YORK, Apr 24 (Reuters Health) - The gluten-free diet prescribed for

the digestive disorder celiac disease may reverse liver failure in some

patients with both conditions, new research suggests.

And, the study authors say, the relatively high frequency of undiagnosed

celiac disease among people with serious liver conditions suggests the

disorder should be looked for in certain liver disease patients.

The researchers, led by Dr. Katri Kaukinen of the University of Tampere

in Finland, report their findings in the April issue of

Gastroenterology.

Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that damages the small intestine

and interferes with the normal absorption of nutrients from food. It

arises from an allergic reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat,

rye and barley. The problem often goes undetected because many of its

symptoms--such as abdominal pain, fatigue and diarrhea--are similar to a

range of other disorders. And some patients have no symptoms.

Celiac disease is also associated with other disorders caused by immune

system dysfunction, including immune system-related liver diseases like

autoimmune hepatitis.

In their study of 185 patients who had received liver transplants,

Kaukinen and colleagues found that eight patients--or just over 4%--had

celiac disease. Two of these eight had not been diagnosed previously,

and in five patients, the liver disorder had developed when their celiac

disease was still undiagnosed. Only one had stuck to a long-term

gluten-free diet before the liver transplant, according to the report.

Moreover, in another four patients with advanced liver disease and

untreated celiac disease, the investigators found that a gluten-free

diet reversed patients' liver dysfunction. The two who have adhered to

the diet remain in good condition, the researchers report. One patient

who did not stick with the diet saw his liver disease progress and

eventually had a liver transplant.

According to Kaukinen's team, these findings suggest that in such

patients, dietary intervention may prevent progression to liver failure.

And, they point out, their finding that about 4% of liver transplant

patients had celiac disease--usually associated with autoimmune liver

disorders--indicates that celiac disease should be " rigorously

investigated " in all patients with autoimmune hepatitis or hepatitis

with no known cause.

" In some cases, " they write, " early detection and treatment of celiac

disease may prevent progression to end-stage liver failure. "

SOURCE: Gastroenterology 2002;122:881-888.