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Neurological abnormalities associated with celiac disease

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel

    Adi Vaknin & Israel Steiner

  2. Department of Gastroenterology, Rambam Medical Center, P. O. Box 960, Haifa, 31096

    Rami Eliakim

  3. Department of Medicine, Hadassah Mount Scopus Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel

    Zvi Ackerman

Authors
  1. Adi Vaknin
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  2. Rami Eliakim
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  3. Zvi Ackerman
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  4. Israel Steiner
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rami Eliakim.

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Vaknin, A., Eliakim, R., Ackerman, Z. et al. Neurological abnormalities associated with celiac disease. J Neurol 251, 1393–1397 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-004-0550-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-004-0550-9

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