<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> The subject of cardiology-related symptoms of CD and CD-associated cardiological disease has not been reviewed. So, here I attempt to summarize readings of research papers and abstracts of research papers dealing with the topic. CD and cardiomyopathy and heart failure A study of 642 patients who were candidates for heart transplant in Italy found that 1.9% had anti-endomysial antibodies (AEA) (compared to 0.35% of 720 healthy controls) and that 2.2% of 275 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy were AEA-positive (compared to 1.6% in the remaining transplant candidates) (Prati D, et al, 2002, Am J Gastroenterol 97:218; Prati D, et al, 2002, Dig Liver Dis 34:39). Although an association was found, there was no way to assess cause and affect. The AEA-positive patients and AEA-negative patients presented with similar cardiologic criteria and had similar 2-year post-transplant survival. Similar, but more limited findings were described in preliminary data (Curione M, et al, 1997, Lancet 354: 222). The authors suggest a study of whether a GFD improves cardiac function in such patients. A study in Italy found that 5% of 60 elderly (over 65 years) CD patients died during the study due to heart failure (Gasbarrini G, et al, 2001, Gerontology 47:306). The authors determined that this was significantly higher than the non-CD population, but don’t give a non-CD rate. Furthermore, 0.4% of 226 non-elderly adult CD patients died with heart failure as the cause and this rate was not significantly higher than the comparable non-CD population. Other cardiological symptoms and disorders were not assessed. See Part 2 for: Common causes? CD and autoimmune myocarditis Other Cardiologic Diseases Laura _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com *Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CELIAC List*