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Lupus And Celiac Disease?


inducedjoy

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inducedjoy Newbie

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

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

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

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

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

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
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

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

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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    • trents
      You might consider asking for a referral to a RD (Registered Dietician) to help with food choices and planning a diet. Even apart from any gluten issues, you will likely find there are some foods you need to avoid because of the shorter bowel but you may also find that your system may make adjustments over time and that symptoms may improve.
    • Ello
      I wish Dr’s would have these discussions with their patients. So frustrating but will continue to do research. Absolutely love this website. I will post any updates on my testing and results.  Thank you
    • trents
      Losing 12" of your small bowel is going to present challenges for you in nutritional uptake because you are losing a significant amount of nutritional absorption surface area. You will need to focus on consuming foods that are nutritionally dense and also probably look at some good supplements. If indeed you are having issues with gluten you will need to educate yourself as to how gluten is hidden in the food supply. There's more to it than just avoiding the major sources of gluten like bread and pasta. It is hidden in so many things you would never expect to find it in like canned tomato soup and soy sauce just to name a few. It can be in pills and medications.  Also, your "yellow diarrhea, constipation and bloating" though these are classic signs of a gluten disorder, could also be related to the post surgical shorter length of your small bowel causing incomplete processing/digestion of food.
    • Ello
      Yes this information helps. I will continue to be pro active with this issues I am having. More testing to be done. Thank you so much for your response. 
    • trents
      There are two gluten-related disorders that share many of the same symptoms but differ in nature from each other. One is known as celiac disease or "gluten intolerance". By nature, it is an autoimmune disorder, meaning the ingestion of gluten triggers the body to attack it's own tissues, specifically the lining of the small bowel. This attack causes inflammation and produces antibodies that can be detected in the blood by specific tests like the TTG-IGA test you had. Over time, if gluten is not withheld, this inflammation can cause severe damage to the lining of the small bowel and even result in nutrient deficiency related health issues since the small bowel lining is organ where all the nutrition found in our food is absorbed.  The other is NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just "gluten sensitivity") which we know less about and are unsure of the exact mechanism of action. It is not an autoimmune disorder and unlike celiac disease it does not damage the lining of the small bowel, though, like celiac disease, it can cause GI distress and it can also do other kinds of damage to the body. It is thought to be more common than celiac disease. Currently, we cannot test for NCGS. Celiac disease must first be ruled out to arrive at a diagnosis of NCGS. Both disorders require elimination of gluten from the diet.  Either of these disorders can find their onset at any stage of life. We know that celiac disease has a genetic component but the genes are inactive until awakened by some stress event. About 40% of the general population has the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% develop active celiac disease. The incidence of NCGS is thought to be considerably higher. I hope this helps.
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