Dr Joseph Murray (Mayo Clinic) on COVID-19 and celiac disease

[cyclinglady]

Dr.Joseph Murray (Gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic) was interviewed by The People's Pharmacy. His recommendations for celiac disease patients:

COVID-19 infection can present as GI symptoms, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, and loss of appetite. Don't assume your GI symptoms are from gluten exposure, get tested for COVID-19.

Celiac disease patients have an immune system that is less responsive to vaccines, this is concerning for when a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available. (This I did not know.)

Celiac disease patients have a higher risk of pneumonia, this is of concern if it develops as a complication of COVID-19. (Scott was right.  I stand corrected.)

Celiac disease patients have a higher risk of shingles (herpes zoster), which might be triggered by a COVID-19 infection.

Because of the above risks, celiac patients should be more careful than other people. Celiac disease is not as high risk as diabetes, hypertension, and being over age 65. But regard yourself as somewhat high risk and take all precautions. Even suggested precautions, not just those that are mandated.

Suggested precautions:

Wear a mask in indoor public places all the time.

Don't make unnecessary trips.

Don't go into crowded shopping areas if you don't have to.

Minimize your contact with people outside your household.

Source: The People's Pharmacy Podcast - Show 1221: What Explains the Recent Increase in Celiac Disease? And...Reddit, 7/31/2013.  

COVID-19 discussion at the 30 minute mark in the podcast.

https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/show-1221-what-explains-the-recent-increase-in-celiac-disease

Edited July 31, 2020 by cyclinglady

[trents]

Great summary CL! Thanks. I didn't know that celiacs are less responsive to vaccinations.

[cyclinglady]

Just a few small studies on the Hepatitis B vaccine.   But it appears the vaccine works if the celiac patients are on a gluten free diet.  What is worrisome are those undiagnosed celiacs (80%) may not fare as well.  One more reason to get celiacs diagnosed.  Encourage your relatives to get tested.  

https://celiac.org/about-the-foundation/featured-news/2015/01/vaccination/

 

[icelandgirl]

Thank you so much for sharing this...really interesting.  I had no idea we were less responsive to vaccines or that we were more susceptible to pneumonia.  Do we know why that is?  

I find it a bit scary.  I've been taking this all very seriously, I wear a mask...I have mask station set up right by our front door so that everyone can grab one on their way out.  But, I did not see myself as being higher risk at all.

[cyclinglady]

This is just one doctor’s opinion and it is based on some small  studies on the hepatitis vaccine.  Treated celiacs were equal to non- celiacs in that tiny study and The good news is that you are treated.     Remember Too that his expertise is in celiac disease.  He is not an immunologist or virologist.  No one really knows much about this new virus.   The same goes for pneumonia.  We do not really know.  

[DJFL77I]

80% undiagnosed?

[cyclinglady]

Probably an old figure, but I think it is still valid or pretty close.  And here is some supporting evidence:

https://www.beyondceliac.org/celiac-disease/facts-and-figures/
 

You are probably NOT  The only celiac in your family.  Chances are (up to 44% per a recent Mayo Clinic Study), you have other family members who have undiagnosed celiac disease.  Encourage them to get tested, even if asymptomatic.  

Edited August 2, 2020 by cyclinglady

[DJFL77I]

none of them have ever been tested

[Gemini]

On 8/2/2020 at 9:36 AM, cyclinglady said:

This is just one doctor’s opinion and it is based on some small  studies on the hepatitis vaccine.  Treated celiacs were equal to non- celiacs in that tiny study and The good news is that you are treated.     Remember Too that his expertise is in celiac disease.  He is not an immunologist or virologist.  No one really knows much about this new virus.   The same goes for pneumonia.  We do not really know.  

Glad you clarified that, CL!  From all the reading I have done so far over the years on vaccines and Celiac, it is only the hepatitis vaccine that is proving questionable.  That one requires two immunizations to be effective in people so maybe that has something to do with it?  It is more difficult to take hold and work?

With regards to shingles, I do not believe we are more susectible.  People pop with shingles when their immune system becomes momentarily compromised.  I had it once and it was because I was in a thyroid storm, due to the fact that once healed from Celiac, my thyroid dose was too high.  They cut it way back to re-figure the correct dosage for me and it swung too low.  That was a tough couple of months for me.  That is when I popped with shingles.  I had a less terrible time with them and they healed up pretty quickly, once I got my thyroid under control.  I have never had a recurrence in the 11 years since and I do not get vaccinated against them.  The vaccine is not effective enough for me to bother.  My doctor at the time said that if you do the right things to keep your immune system strong, like sleep, eating and exercise, you should not have a problem with shingles.  The reason older folks over 70 seem to get them more often is because their immune systems are aging and not as effective.  That might be the time to change strategy.

The jury is out on pneumonia.  I don’t have experience with that because I have never had pneumonia.  So, it isn’t necessarily true for everyone. I think a lot has to do on how well you take care of yourself and whether you are susceptible to certain conditions. I know people who get pneumonia at the drop of a hat.  They are normally pretty healthy too.

I stay home mostly because I hate hospitals and do not want to be in one.  Not to mention the mask nazi’s.  It is torture for me to wear one with Sjogren’s so it is easier to stay home.  You cannot walk around without one as you risk a personal, verbal assault where I live.  I have seen a few people without one and assume they have a medical condition that prohibits it, like asthma.  People need to remember that.  I do not get freaked out by people without a mask on.  That is where social distancing comes in. I go food shopping a couple of times a month and get my hair colored cause that’s important!  That’s it!  😉

[PSHadle]

Can you suggest some journal articles that support the alleged lower response to vaccines?  How much lower, given the huge normal range in responses?  

[notme]

On 8/2/2020 at 1:18 PM, DJFL77I said:

none of them have ever been tested

once i got diagnosed, half of my family got tested (all neg) so they discounted it, even though they had many, many symptoms.  my son has type 1 diabetes, which is also caused by the same autoimmune gene.  fast forward, my brother, daughter and nephew are all gluten free now and their symptoms have gone away.  without a diagnosis.  it's hard to get a firm diagnosis and most people won't try the strict gluten free diet without a diagnosis.  some people get diagnosed and do not follow the diet because they don't want to (crazy!) or "it's too hard"  🙄

[Scott Adams]

Here are some articles we've done on that topic:

 

 

 

 

 

[DJFL77I]

7 minutes ago, notme! said:

 some people get diagnosed and do not follow the diet because they don't want to (crazy!) or "it's too hard"  🙄

that's insane

[notme]

1 minute ago, DJFL77I said:

that's insane

i agree.   i guess they aren't sick enough.  yet.