Urticaria, autoimmune, thyroid, wheat...

[Guest guest]

I'm going to take Matija's contribution about

urticaria (hives) and swelling another step further.

There is substantial evidence tying thyroid problems

to gluten intolerance.

Here is an article from thyroid.about.com

If you suspect grains may be causing you problems --

on your skin and otherwise, and also have/suspect a

thyroid condition, have other autoimmune troubles,

suffer from chronic hives and/or swelling (which may

or may not be misdiagnosed as rosacea), then this

article may provide valuable insight.

Suzi

The Celiac/Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

Connection: A Major Thyroid Disease

Breakthrough

by by J. Shomon

According to research recently reported on in the

medical journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences, a

significant number of patients with autoimmune thyroid

disease also have celiac disease. Celiac disease is a

disorder that causes the intestines to react

abnormally to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye,

barley, oats, spelt, kamut, and other related grains.

" ...researchers found that...organ-specific

autoantibodies (i.e., thyroid -- will disappear after

3 to 6 months on a gluten-free diet. "

Celiac disease, which is sometimes referred to as

celiac sprue, sprue, or gluten intolerance, makes it

difficult for the body to properly absorb nutrients

from foods. Symptoms include various intestinal

difficulties, recurring abdominal bloating and pain,

nausea, anemia, gas, tingling numbness in the legs,

sores inside the mouth, painful skin rash, cramping,

hives, joint/muscle pains and aches, diarrhea, and

constipation, among others. Untreated, celiac disease

raises risks of contracting certain stomach cancers by

more than double.

The researchers studied 172 patients with autoimmune

thyroid disease, and two control groups, and found

that the 3.4% of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis

had celiac disease, and the prevalence was only 0.6%

and 0.25% among the control groups. The study also

found that undiagnosed celiac disease may actually be

part of the process that triggers an underlying

autoimmune disease. In their findings they wrote: " " We

believe that undiagnosed celiac disease can cause

other

disorders by switching on some as yet unknown

immunological mechanism. Untreated celiac patients

produce organ-specific autoantibodies. "

Of perhaps greatest importance to thyroid patients,

the researchers found that the various antibodies that

indicate celiac disease - organ-specific

autoantibodies (i.e., thyroid antibodies) -- will

disappear after 3 to 6 months of a gluten-free diet.

The researchers suggest that patients with autoimmune

thyroiditis " may benefit from a screening for celiac

disease so as to eliminate symptoms and limit the risk

of developing other autoimmune disorders. "

(Digestive Diseases and Sciences, February

2000;45:403-406.)

__________________________________________________