Blood supply to the brain compromised in coeliac disease

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 22 Mar 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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New research indicates that up to 73% of patients with untreated coeliac disease have at least one hypoperfused brain region.

A study published in The American Journal of Medicine assessed the frequency of cerebral hypoperfusion in patients with coeliac disease.

Single photon emission computed tomography was used to evaluate cerebral blood flow in 15 untreated coeliac patients, 15 treated patients, and 27 healthy controls.

Eleven (73%) of the untreated patients showed hypoperfusion in at least one cerebral region, compared with just one (7%) treated patient and no controls.

Moreover, in 7 of 26 brain regions assessed, perfusion was significantly lower in untreated patients than in controls. In contrast, no perfusion differences were seen between treated patients and controls.

The authors suggest 'cerebral hypoperfusion may be related to intestinal hyperemia.'

They add that it may also depend on 'autoimmune or immune complex-related endothelial inflammation, perhaps involving antigliadin antibodies or an unidentified neurotoxic antibody.'

Reference: Addolorato G et al (2004) Regional cerebral hypoperfusion in patients with celiac disease Am J Med 116 (312-317)