<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

CELIAC DISEASE AND AUTOIMMUNITY Thyroid Disease There is a strong
association of autoimmune thyroid disease and celiac disease, however,
the mechanism of this association is not well established. In order to
investigate this, we studied the association of antibodies to tissue
transglutaminase (the characteristic marker of celiac disease) and the
presence of thyroid disease. We noted that the serum of patients with
celiac disease could bind to mouse thyroid tissue. This binding was due
to anti-tissue transglutaminase binding to tissue transglutaminase
present in thyroid tissue. This enzyme is integral to the normal
function of the thyroid gland. In addition, we discovered that there was
a direct linear correlation of these antibodies to thyroid antibodies
present in the sera of patients with celiac disease. These findings
suggest that celiac disease, via the generation of anti-tissue
transglutaminase antibodies, may have a direct role in the initiation of
autoimmune thyroid disease. These finding have been accepted for
publication in the journal Thyroid. We anticipate that our findings will
lead to further studies that can help elucidate the mechanism of thyroid
disease in patients with celiac disease and possible mechanisms of
preventing it. 

 

 

 

PATHOGENESIS OF CELIAC DISEASE Role of regulatory T-cells in celiac
disease In our immunology laboratory, in collaboration with Dr. Govind
Bhagat, Department of Surgical Pathology, we used immunological
techniques on small intestinal biopsies of patients with celiac disease.

 

We made exciting, previously unreported observations for the role of
regulatory T-cells in the pathogenesis of celiac disease. These cells
are important in maintaining tolerance to environmental proteins such as
gluten. Our observation suggests that alterations in the usual function
of these cells may be important for the generation of the disease. These
studies were published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, January
2008. 

 

 

 

DISEASE ASSOCIATIONS WITH CELIAC DISEASE Sarcoidosis We studied the
relationship of celiac disease to sarcoidosis. Using our patient data
base maintained in the Center, we described an association of celiac
disease with sarcoidosis. Our findings were that sarcoidosis occurs more
commonly in patients with celiac disease than the general population.

 

This is important for physicians to be aware of this relationship
because both diseases are multi-systemic and may have overlapping
symptoms. These results were published in Digestive Diseases and
Sciences, April 2008. Chronic Hepatitis C 

 

 

 

The literature has been inconsistent in determining whether there is a
relationship between celiac disease and chronic hepatitis C. We found
that there does not appear to be a relationship, however, when
individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection are treated with
interferon there appears to be an increased rate of the development of
celiac disease. This is probably because of the role of interferon in
the generation of villous atrophy and inflammation in the intestine.

This is important for physicians to recognize this association because
of the development of gastrointestinal symptoms in the patient receiving
interferon may be due to the development of celiac disease and not just
a side effect of the medication. These results were published in
Digestive Disease and Science, January 2008. Anemia It is well
established that iron deficiency anemia may be a manifestation of celiac
disease. We however examined the hematological manifestations in our
patients with celiac disease and found that anemia was multi-factorial.

 

Iron deficiency as well as folic acid and vitamin B12 may contribute to
the anemia. Our important observation in this study was that anemia of
chronic disease; secondary to the chronic inflammation involved in
celiac disease is a contributing factor to the anemia. These
observations were published in the American Journal of Hematology,
November 2007. 

 

 

 


*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the Celiac List *
Archives are at: Http://Listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?LIST=CELIAC