Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Jefferson Adams
    Jefferson Adams

    Myoclonus Ataxia and Refractory Celiac Disease

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.
    Myoclonus Ataxia and Refractory Celiac Disease - Photo: Wikimedia Commons--Stan Zurek
    Caption: Photo: Wikimedia Commons--Stan Zurek

    Celiac.com 10/27/2014 - There have been a few reports tying cortical myoclonus with ataxia to celiac disease. Such reports also suggest that the former is unresponsive to a gluten-free diet.

    A team of researchers recently set out to determine if there is any significant connection between the two conditions. The research team included Ptolemaios G. Sarrigiannis, Nigel Hoggard, Daniel Aeschlimann, David S. Sanders, Richard A. Grünewald, Zoe C. Unwin, and Marios Hadjivassiliou.

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A12):
    They are variously associated with the Departments of Gastroenterology, Neurology, Neurophysiology and Neuroradiology at Royal Hallamshire Hospital, in Sheffield, UK, and with the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences at Cardiff University in Cardiff, UK.

    The team presented detailed electro-clinical characteristics of a new syndrome of progressive cortical hyperexcitability with ataxia and refractory celiac disease. Regular follow ups of over 600 patients with neurological manifestations due to gluten sensitivity revealed 9 patients with this syndrome.

    They found that all nine patients, six men and three women, experienced asymmetrical irregular myoclonus involving one or more limbs and sometimes face. This was often stimulus sensitive and became more widespread over time. Three patients had a history of Jacksonian march, and five had at least one secondarily generalized seizure. Electrophysiology showed evidence of cortical myoclonus. Three showed a phenotype of epilepsia partialis continua at onset.

    All patients showed clinical, imaging and/or pathological evidence of cerebellar involvement. All patients followed a strict gluten-free diet, and most successfully eliminated gluten-related antibodies. However, all patients still showed evidence of enteropathy, suggests that refractory celiac disease is to blame.

    During the study, two patients died from enteropathy-associated lymphoma and one from status epilepticus. Five patients were treated with mycophenolate and one in addition with rituximab and IV immunoglobulins. These patients showed improvement of ataxia and enteropathy, but continued to suffer the effects of myoclonus.

    These results indicate that myoclonus ataxia might be the most common neurological manifestation of refractory celiac disease.

    The clinical involvement, apart from ataxia, covers the whole clinical spectrum of cortical myoclonus.

    Source:

    • Open Original Shared LinkOpen Original Shared Link


    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    Guest Irv

    Very interesting.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Dawn Meyers

    Hi I have been gluten free since 2017 when diagnosed with celiac disease.  My blood test IgA was off the chart also have dermatitis herpetiformis rash. I have continued to have diarrhea and have had nausea also. Have had breath tests but came back with intolerance to sugar alcohols and chicory root. Have taken out of diet but still have diarrhea and nausea. My blood was taken IgA and is even higher than before. Recently was told my other rash is psoriasis and a positive for psoriasis arthritis.  Having  iching and burning in arms and legs with no rash worse when go to bed. My concern is if I have refractory celiac? My dad had non-hogins lymphoma and I know that cancer is high in celiac disease. I have been sick and so tired lately.  Went to my Dr he thinks it's only a virus.  I think it might be a lot more.  Ant advise???

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    trents

    Are you still consuming dairy and oats, even gluten free oats? Those two foods contains proteins similar enough to gluten to cause celiac reactions in a certain percentage of celiacs. If you have dermatitis herpetiformis you also want to be on a low iodine diet.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Dawn Meyers

    No dairy or oats . Even stopped corn rice  pork and beef. Very frustrated! 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    knitty kitty

    @Dawn Meyers,

    Have you tried the Autoimmune Protocol Diet?  It's a Paleo Diet that cuts out processed gluten free foods, grains, legumes, nightshades, dairy, eggs and nuts.   After the digestive system calms down (about three weeks) add in one food at a time to see if symptoms reappear.  It really helped me.  

    Also, get your Vitamin D level checked.  Vitamin D helps reduce inflammation.  People with psoriasis have lower Vitamin D levels than people without.

    Supplementing with a B Complex and extra Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine helps, too.  Several of the B vitamins (Thiamine, Niacin, Pyridoxine, Cobalamine) can cause peripheral neuropathy which can feel like itching.  Niacin will help Dermatitis Herpetiformis.  Thiamine deficiency can cause diarrhea and nausea.  Niacin deficiency can cause diarrhea and skin rashes.

    Have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies?

    Have you checked any medications for Gluten?  Gluten is frequently used as a filler in many medications.  Check soaps, shampoos, etc., and pet foods for gluten.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Dawn Meyers

    Have done the autommune diet. On D3 B12 and folate. Check all medications OK. Use free and clear soap shampoo ect . Clean with vinegar and baking soda. My cat has Graves so she is on gluten free foods.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Dawn Meyers

    Have peripheral neuropathy also.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    knitty kitty

    @Dawn Meyers,

    You would do much better if you took a B Complex that contains all Eight essential B vitamins.  Just taking B12 Cobalamine and Folate can cause a Pyridoxine B6 deficiency.  Pyridoxine deficiency causes Peripheral Neuropathy.  Pyridoxine is one of the vitamins that is notoriously low in celiac disease.  

    Try Benfotiamine in addition to the B Complex.  Thiamine interacts with every single B vitamin.  

    What kind of vinegar are you using? 

     

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Dawn Meyers

    Plain white vinegar 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Dawn Meyers

    I was taking 2000 B12 is there amount you should take? 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    knitty kitty

    B12 is only one of the B vitamins.  

    You need all eight:

    Thiamine B1, Riboflavin B 2, Niacin B3, Pantothetic Acid B5, Pyridoxine B6, Biotin B7, Folate B 9, Cobalamine B12

    B Complex contains all EIGHT of the B vitamins.  

    White vinegar is made from grain alcohol.  Try Apple Cider Vinegar instead.  It will clean just as well.

    Edited by knitty kitty
    Typo correction
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Dawn Meyers

    Thank you I will try anything at this point!!!

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate
  • About Me

    Jefferson Adams

    Jefferson Adams is Celiac.com's senior writer and Digital Content Director. He earned his B.A. and M.F.A. at Arizona State University. His articles, essays, poems, stories and book reviews have appeared in numerous magazines, journals, and websites, including North American Project, Antioch Review, Caliban, Mississippi Review, Slate, and more. He is the author of more than 2,500 articles on celiac disease. His university coursework includes studies in science, scientific methodology, biology, anatomy, physiology, medicine, logic, and advanced research. He previously devised health and medical content for Colgate, Dove, Pfizer, Sharecare, Walgreens, and more. Jefferson has spoken about celiac disease to the media, including an appearance on the KQED radio show Forum, and is the editor of numerous books, including "Cereal Killers" by Scott Adams and Ron Hoggan, Ed.D.

    >VIEW ALL ARTICLES BY JEFFERSON ADAMS

     


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Related Articles

    Jefferson Adams
    Celiac.com 09/02/2008 - Thanks to a team of  researchers based in Great Britain, doctors may soon have a powerful new diagnostic tool to help them in their efforts to combat the damage caused by celiac disease. Their new discovery concerns people with celiac disease who may also develop neurological disorders.
    The research team was made up of Marios Hadjivassiliou, MD, Pascale Aeschlimann, BSc, Alexander Strigun, MSc, David Sanders, MD, Nicola Woodroofe, PhD, and Daniel Aeschlimann, PhD.  The team recently investigated the nature of gluten sensitivity by isolating a unique neuronal transglutaminase enzyme and examining whether it is the focus of the immune response in celiac patients with neurological dysfunction.
    About one in ten people with celiac disease also suffer from associated n...


    Destiny Stone
    Celiac.com 03/09/2010 - Celiac disease is a vastly growing epidemic. Those suffering from celiac  have varying levels of difficulty digesting wheat, rye and barley; as celiac  primarily affects the small bowel and is considered to be an autoimmune intestinal disorder. However, compounding  new evidence sited in the March 2010 edition of the The Lancet Neurology, suggests that celiac disease also affects the nervous system, indicating a wider systemic disorder than previously thought.
    Thanks to modern science and years of  testing, many neurological disorders are now being directly associated with gluten intolerance. The most common associations have been demonstrated to be, cerebellar ataxia and peripheral neuropathy. Although gluten has also been shown to impact drug resistant epilepsy, mu...


    Jefferson Adams
    Restless Leg Syndrome Common in Adults with Celiac Disease
    Celiac.com 04/22/2010 - Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological condition, with generally unknown causes, that is sometimes associated with specific disorders such as iron deficiency. Even though celiac disease is an autoimmune condition, people with celiac disease often suffer from associated malabsorption-related iron deficiency anemia and peripheral neuropathy.
    A team of researchers recently set out to assess rates of restless leg syndrome in adults with celiac disease. The team included Marcello Moccia, MS, Maria Teresa Pellecchia, MD, PhD, Roberto Erro, MD, Fabiana Zingone, MD, Sara Marelli, MD, Damiano Giuseppe Barone, MD, Carolina Ciacci, MD, Luigi Ferini Strambi, MD, and Paolo Barone, MD, PhD.
    They are variously associated with the Department of Systematic Pathology...


    Jefferson Adams
    Gluten Sensitivity May Trigger Sensory Ganglionopathy
    Celiac.com 10/28/2010 - A team of researchers recently found that gluten sensitivity can play a role in triggering a certain type of neurologic dysfunction, called sensory ganglionopathy, and that the condition may respond to a strict gluten-free diet.
    The team conducted a retrospective observational case study on 409 patients with different types of peripheral neuropathies, including seventeen patients with sensory ganglionopathy and gluten sensitivity.
    The research team was made up of M. Hadjivassiliou, MD, D.G. Rao, MD, S.B. Wharton, PhD, D.S. Sanders, MD, R.A. Grünewald, DPhil, and A.G.B. Davies-Jones, MD. They are affiliated variously with the Departments of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neuropathology, and Gastroenterology at Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, UK.
    Neurological ...


  • Recent Activity

    1. - kopiq replied to kopiq's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      1

      starting to heal, vitamin d deficiant but cannot tolerate vitamins. what to do? also multiple ongoing issues.

    2. - kopiq posted a topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      1

      starting to heal, vitamin d deficiant but cannot tolerate vitamins. what to do? also multiple ongoing issues.

    3. - trents replied to More2Learn's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      5

      Celiac Maybe a Possibility?

    4. - More2Learn replied to More2Learn's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      5

      Celiac Maybe a Possibility?

    5. - Yaya replied to CeliacChica's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      45

      Muscle Twitching


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      126,206
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    DreDre
    Newest Member
    DreDre
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.9k
    • Total Posts
      69.2k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Popular Now

    • CeliacPsycho246
      4
    • CeliacChica
      45
    • ellanataliw
      6
  • Popular Articles

    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
  • Upcoming Events

×
×
  • Create New...