Study neuropathy and celiac disease often together

Celiac patients are at an increased risk of developing peripheral nervous disorders. That's what scientists from Sweden and the US found out now.

Picture: klickerminth - fotolia

The neurologists had examined the data of about 28,000 Swedes, who had been diagnosed with celiac disease by means of small intestinal biopsy. At the time of the diagnosis of celiac disease no neuropathy was known among those affected. The comparison group was 139,473 people of age and gender without celiac disease.

Neuropathy was observed over 10 years in 0.7% of celiac patients and 0.3% of controls. Thus, the celiac disease patients had a 2.5 times higher risk of disease. The highest risk was in the first year after the celiac disease was discovered. The study can be found here. (Pm)