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Lupus And Celiac Disease?

inducedjoy

By inducedjoy
in Related Issues & Disorders

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inducedjoy Newbie
inducedjoy
Posted

I have tried looking into other posts on here about the relation between lupus and celiac disease, but it seems as though every one I click on, it turns into a conversation about something else.

Has anyone on here been diagnosed with celiac disease before being diagnosed with lupus? I have a strong feeling I may have lupus because it runs in my family, and in the last six months, I have noticed some things that lead me to believe I may have it.

If you were diagnosed with lupus after your celiac diagnosis, how long was it after the fact? What lead you to being tested for lupus?

Also, if anyone has scholarly articles or medical publications they can point me towards regarding the subject, it would be greatly appreciated!

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lil'chefy Apprentice
lil'chefy
Posted

I have tried looking into other posts on here about the relation between lupus and celiac disease, but it seems as though every one I click on, it turns into a conversation about something else.

Has anyone on here been diagnosed with celiac disease before being diagnosed with lupus? I have a strong feeling I may have lupus because it runs in my family, and in the last six months, I have noticed some things that lead me to believe I may have it.

If you were diagnosed with lupus after your celiac diagnosis, how long was it after the fact? What lead you to being tested for lupus?

Also, if anyone has scholarly articles or medical publications they can point me towards regarding the subject, it would be greatly appreciated!

I have celiac disease (dermatitis herpetiformus)and often when I have gotten a blood test, I have all the markers for lupus, but when they do the lupus panel, I don't have it. I googled "lupus and celiac" and tons of articles popped up.

tennisman Contributor
tennisman
Posted

I had a positive blood test for lupus but the doctor didn't think I have . I did the test with a Rheumatologist while they were trying to figure my back problems out . I looked at lupus sites I have a few of the symptoms mentioned but I doubt the doctor would diagnose me with it . I tested positive to 2 other conditions but wasn't diagnosed with either .

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

I am in the process of checking out the possibilty that I have lupus. I was diagnosed celiac just 4 months ago and with Hashimoto's 2 months (although I suspect I've had them since babyhood and my early 20's). I started looking into lupus after being gluten-free for many months and beginning treatment for hypothyroidism when I had a "flare" of symptoms. I decised to look back through my medical records to see what else my doctors missed, specifically from when I was in my early 20's and had my first arthritic like flare. I started looking into symptoms and their connections to tests and came up with these things that worried me (many in the 11 criteria for diagnosing lupus):



  • 1:160 speckled ANA (20 and 15 years ago - had this recently rechecked and it's a negative at 1:80)
  • Autoimmune thrombocyptopenia purapura (ITP) and a splenectomy
  • arthritic flares - start with a flu/fever like feeling, big fatigue and arthritis and stiffness in joints
  • mouth ulcers - I have no idea if these are the type in the diagnostic criteria
  • rosaecea or malar rash - I have roseacea but who knows, it could be more... doubt it... I hope

Lots of other little things too like general fatigue, hair loss and GI issues that I'm pretty sure the Hashi's and celiac are responsible for. At this point I'm hoping undertreated hypothyroidism and a healing GI tract are to blame for my problems. Fingers crossed...

I have had other (lupus) tests run and should know the results in a couple of days. So far I've had (another) negative RF, low ESR, normal C3, and a mildly low C4... nothing unusual. I'm waiting on an ENA panel which tests for more specific antibodies to lupus.

If you think it's lupus, you might as well start the diagnostic process. It's not a very cut and dried path to get a diagnosis so you might as well get the ball rolling so you'll have answers sooner. Good luck.

  • 2 weeks later...
megsybeth Enthusiast
megsybeth
Posted

I'm curious about this too. My aunt and cousin both have lupus and we all have very similar genetic traits (though i don't know if that's a reason we would share these particular genes, just we look alike, sound alike, compared to the rest of the family). I've never had the typical rashes associated with lupus but I've always had back pain. I'm still processing this diagnosis, though, and hoping not to deal with another.

erinrezner Newbie
erinrezner
Posted

I have been sick my whole life. In 2009 I was diagnosed with Celiac. After a few years with only so much improvement we found out this past year (2012) I aslo have Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (overlap of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus & Sjogren's), so yes, you can have both.

Autoimmune Diseases rarely come to the party alone.

  • 2 weeks later...
Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted
Autoimmune Diseases rarely come to the party alone.

As a person with 4 AI diseases, this quote made me laugh.....how very true it is! ;)

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GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

Autoimmune Diseases rarely come to the party alone.

Brilliant!

I have a few and my daughter's total recently jumped to six.

Thanks for the giggle Erin :)

  • 2 months later...
juul Newbie
juul
Posted

My dad was diagnosed with celiac in 1987. I wasn't tested till he was dying (not one doctor said to test me). I have celiac. He had lupus, too. My regular doctor just told me to go to the rheumatologist because my b/w is elevated for lupus. I am scared. In the last few years I have had about 5 attacks where I could barely move out of the bed. I think it might be fibromyalgia but we shall see. I am sure a it of tests will be coming my way. I finally had a clear endoscopy last spring and now this. I've been gluten free since 2005 I believe

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