Celiac Disease & Gluten Intolerance Research

New research on hemolysis and celiac disease.

Doctors describe how hemolysis interferes with the detection of anti–tissue transglutaminase antibodies in celiac disease.

Potential treatment for T-cell lymphoma

A team of researchers recently evaluated enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma and compared standard therapies with a novel regimen including autologous stem cell transplantation

Irish Study of Gluten-Free Breads

New research is currently underway in Ireland, as researchers test "pseudo-cereals" to determine the quality of  replacements for glutenous grains such as, wheat, rye and barley. Many celiacs, especially those with delayed diagnosis', suffer from malabsorbtion and malnutrition. It is therefore more important for celiacs to ingest grains that are vitamin fortified than it is for non-celiacs.

A clinical research team recently examined the increased expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha in celiac disease. They found increased mucosal HIF-1alpha expression in children with celiac disease that suggests influences from this signaling pathway in the pathological mechanisms of celiac disease.

Diagnostic testing for celiac (photo courtesy of Brymo)

Celiac disease is a genetic, permanent auto-immune disease with a variety of symptoms which, when treated with a gluten-free diet, usually subside. While clinical presentation is variable, most patients that are treated for abdominal pain do not have celiac disease. It is therefore important to accurately diagnose celiac disease in patients exhibiting abdominal pain, without unnecessarily testing  patients that do not have celiac disease.

People born via cesarean are at greater risk for celiac disease.

Celiac disease affects 1 in 100 people in the United States, and an estimated 97% of those people are undiagnosed. Meanwhile, scientists are working fervently to determine the underlying cause of celiac disease and also, a cure.

The results of a recent study show that people with celiac disease have defects in their primary pathways for water and solute absorption that may play a role in the onset of malabsorption symptoms.

Probiotics help celiac disease (photo courtesy of SuperFantastic)

A team of researchers has announced what they are calling a 'pivotal advance' regarding the differential influence of bifidobacteria and gram-negative bacteria on immune responses to inflammatory triggers in celiac disease.

Villous Atrophy (photo courtesy of jthetzel)

Celiac disease is the most commonly misdiagnosed auto-immune disease of modern times. People that have celiac disease and ingest gluten, have a T-Cell mediated immune reaction which creates damage to the small intestinal mucosa. Mucosa Villous atrophy is presented as an abnormality of the small intestine, and results in the flattening of the mucosa, and gives the appearance of atrophy of villi. Clinically, this is found in malabsorbtion syndromes like celiac disease. The degree of damage which occurs in the duodenum can vary, and there is some controversy regarding the coexistence of villous atrophy and normal mucosa found in different biopsy locations.

Gluten-Free Diet and Zinc (photo courtesy of Rudner)

Celiac disease primarily impacts the proximal small intestine, and the small intestine is fundamental in maintaining zinc equilibrium within the body. Recently, zinc has been acknowledged for it's importance in upholding the integrity of intestinal mucosa, immunity and proper growth rates in children. Base-line plasma zinc levels are shown to be greatly reduced in over two-thirds of children diagnosed with celiac disease.

Confocal Endomicroscopy in Celiac Disease

A team of clinicians recently assessed the diagnostic value of confocal endomicroscopy in celiac disease and found that duodenal histology by CEM in patients with celiac disease is sensitive and specific in determining increased numbers of IELs and villous atrophy, but inadequate for detecting crypt hyperplasia. Until improvements are made, CEM is not suitable for use in diagnosing celiac disease.

Celiac Disease and Breastfeeding

Celiac disease is a vastly growing epidemic. 1 in 133 people have celiac disease, and only about 3% of those people are accurately diagnosed with celiac. Celiac can be a silent killer if left undiagnosed, and can present itself in the guise of irritable bowel syndrome, anemia, and  colon cancer to name a few. That's why it is of utmost importance to diagnose celiac disease early on. Current studies are being conducted to determine when and why the onset of celiac occurs. In recent years epidemiological studies are indicating that the timing of the introduction of gluten, combined with breastfeeding patterns, may play an important role in the onset and development of celiac disease.

Introducing gluten to a baby's diet during a period of infection does not increase the risk of the child developing celiac disease later on, according to a study by Swedish researchers.

For the first time, scientists working with the Academy of Finland’s Research Program on Nutrition, Food, and Health have found genes in the body that are associated both with the immune system and with the body's ability to properly digest gluten in the intestinal tract.

A team of researchers recently sought to better document the relationships between immunoglobulin-coated bacteria and bacterial composition in feces of celiac disease patients, untreated and treated with a gluten-free diet, and healthy controls. They observed that intestinal dysbiosis and reduced immunoglobulin-coated bacteria are associated with celiac disease in children.

An international research team recently conducted an assessment of the nutritional status of children with newly diagnosed celiac disease, and compared the results to a group of matched control subjects. They found that most children with celiac disease present with 'atypical' symptoms.

A team of researchers recently set out to investigate mucosal expression of claudins 2, 3 and 4 in the proximal and distal parts of duodenum in children with celiac disease. They found that both proximal and distal mucosal duodenal biopsies are suitable for diagnosing villous atrophy in patients with celiac disease.

It is well known that celiac disease can affect individuals of all ages. However, there have been few studies to focus solely on how celiac disease presents among elderly people. To get a better understanding of how celiac disease presents in the elderly, a research team recently set out to compare aspects of celiac disease from elderly populations with a population of young adults with celiac disease.

As part of an effort to investigate the possibility of multiple common variants for celiac disease influencing immune gene expression, a team of more than sixty scientists recently worked together to conduct a second-generation genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 4,533 individuals with clinically proven celiac disease, along with 10,750 control subjects.

A team of researchers recently observed that monocytes differentiated with IL-15 support Th17 and Th1 responses to wheat gliadin. They discuss the implications of this discovery for celiac disease in a recent article in Clinical Immunology.