Researchers Seek Links Between Celiac and Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases

Celiac.com 08/10/2022 - Celiac disease is a common inflammatory disease of the small intestine. Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease make up most cases of autoimmune thyroid disease, and are marked by lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid parenchyma. Both Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease are often seen together with celiac disease. 

Meanwhile, patients with monoglandular and polyglandular autoimmunity have a higher rates of celiac disease. Rising rates of celiac disease among autoimmune thyroid disease patients has prompted researchers to investigate the link between the two.  A team of researchers recently set out to review the medical literature to more clearly illuminate the connections between celiac disease and thyroid autoimmunity. 

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The team's goal was to study the shared genetic background, the incidence of celiac disease in autoimmune thyroid disease, the effect of a gluten-free diet on autoimmune thyroid disease, and the need for routine screening of celiac disease in autoimmune thyroid disease patients.

The research team included Tejaswini Ashok, Nassar Patni, Mahejabeen Fatima, Aselah Lamis, and Shiza W. Siddiqui. They are variously affiliated with the Research at Dubai Medical College in Dubai, ARE; Research, Dubai Medical College for Girls in Dubai, ARE; and Internal Medicine, Deccan College of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad, India.

Researchers think that shared genetic background is likely the main reason for the connection, as there seems to be a substantial overlap in genetic variables between celiac disease and autoimmune thyroid disease. 

Because of the subclinical aspects of the celiac disease, doctors often miss the diagnosis or make it coincidentally during screening. 

The rising rates of celiac disease in autoimmune thyroid disease patients is well documented. Moreover, most studies on the effects of a gluten-free diet in autoimmune thyroid disease patients with celiac disease have shown beneficial effects for the management of both diseases. 

To create a clinical therapy regimen to manage these two concurrent disorders, the team calls for more study on autoimmune thyroid disease patients for genes related to celiac disease, and to subclinical and clinical celiac disease rates.

They note that the multi-system nature of celiac disease warrants a multidisciplinary research and treatment approach that meshes with the diagnostic algorithm of autoimmune thyroid diseases to give patients with both autoimmune thyroid disease and celiac disease the best possible treatment. 

Read more at Cureus.com