Celiac Disease and Peripheral Neuropathy

Celiac disease, or gluten sensitivity, is an under-recognized, genetically inherited digestive disorder that is often associated with other conditions, including peripheral neuropathy, diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren's syndrome.

For people with celiac disease, eating foods containing gluten - a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and possibly oats - sets off an autoimmune reaction that attacks the villi, the small finger-like projections that line the small intestine. Without healthy villi, a person becomes malnourished, no matter how much food is eaten. Left untreated, celiac disease can lead to serious long-term conditions such as cancer, osteoporosis, anemia, and seizures.

The symptoms of celiac disease include: recurring abdominal bloating or pain; anemia; chronic diarrhea; general weakness; foul-smelling stool; and tingling, burning or numbness in the feet and hands. A recent study found that some people with celiac disease had symptoms of peripheral neuropathy before the gastrointestinal symptoms of celiac disease appeared.

Celiac disease is linked to a genetic pre-disposition for the disease - it is more likely to be found in people who are related to an individual with celiac disease (a 1st degree relative). Sometimes the disease is triggered - or shows up for the first time - after surgery, viral infection, pregnancy, childbirth, or severe emotional stress.

Celiac disease is more common than most people think. Recent studies suggest that 1 in 133 Americans are at risk for celiac disease (up from earlier estimates of 1 in 250), yet only 1 in 4,700 Americans have been diagnosed with it. And, since 10 percent of people with celiac disease suffer from an associated neurological condition, some researchers recommend that patients with neuropathy of an unknown cause (idiopathic neuropathy) should be tested for celiac disease, even if they have no gastrointestinal symptoms.

Learn More About Celiac Disease and Peripheral Neuropathy

Diagnosing Peripheral Neuropathy: Neurological Exams

You have the symptoms - tingling, numbness, burning, extreme sensitivity. You've made an appointment to see a neurologist who specializes in peripheral nerve disorders. Now you're wondering, what happens during the first visit?

Before diagnosing peripheral neuropathy, your doctor will review your medical history and conduct a physical exam and neurological evaluation. Depending on your symptoms and the outcome of the neurological evaluation, your doctor may recommend other tests that can determine what type of peripheral neuropathy you have.

A neurological exam may include the following:

* A detailed medical and family history
* An evaluation of neurological function: a physical exam and a number of simple and painless tests
* Diagnostic tests
* Electrodiagnostic tests
* Blood tests
* Other common tests

You can learn more about neurological exams by clicking on the link below.

Neurological Exams

Research Update: Jack Miller Center Researcher Wins NIH Award

Jack Miller Center Research Fellow Dr. Roumen Balabanov is one of only 34 physician / scientists nationwide to receive a Mentored Scientist Development Award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This prestigious award is designed to recruit and prepare outstanding clinician research scientists for research and teaching careers related to neurological disorders

Dr. Balabanov has a longstanding interest in demyelinating diseases that affect the peripheral and central nervous systems. The award will enable him to carry out a five-year research plan to learn how the process of demyelination works at the molecular level, with a goal of finding novel therapeutic approaches to peripheral nerve disorders.

After receiving his M.D. in Bulgaria, Dr. Balabanov spent five years at Wayne State University working on neuroimmunology and autoimmune disorders. He received his neurology training at the University of Chicago, where he also served as Chief Resident. Following his graduation in 2004, he joined the Jack Miller Center as a research fellow in Dr. Brian Popko's laboratory. He is currently a clinical instructor in the Department of Neurology and is certified by the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry.

Congratulations!

New! You Have Questions -- We Have Answers

Do you have a question about peripheral neuropathy - or the Jack Miller Center - or - appointments in the Peripheral Neuropathy Clinic? Look for the answer on the new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page on our website, where you'll find some of the most commonly asked questions -- along with the answers. Here's a sample of what people are asking:

* What is the difference between polyneuropathy and mononeuropathy?

* My 92-year-old mother began developing symptoms of peripheral neuropathy in her late 60s; my symptoms began in my mid-40s. I was told this could be an inherited disease. Is this correct?

* What type of research is being done at the Jack Miller Center?

* I have an appointment in the Jack Miller Center Peripheral Neuropathy Clinic. Can all of the tests be done on-site, on the same day?

* Will my insurance cover the costs of a patient visit in the Jack Miller Peripheral Neuropathy Clinic?

We'll be adding to the list on a regular basis. Your question might already be on the website -- find out by clicking on the link below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

New! Quick Links

We've just made it easier to find the information you're looking for on our website. Are you interested in current clinical trials? Do you want to learn more about a particular type of neuropathy? Would you like to make an appointment? QUICK LINKS will help you get to the right page.

Look for the QUICK LINKS box in the upper left-hand corner of each page on the website, and move the cursor over the box - 9 boxes will drop down:

* What is Peripheral Neuropathy
* Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms
* Types of Peripheral Neuropathy
* Evaluation and Tests
* Treatment and Therapy
* Clinical Trials
* Appointments
* Research
* Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Click on the section you're looking for and you'll be automatically directed to that page.

Quick Links

Help Speed Progress to a Cure

Your tax-deductible donation to the Jack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy can make a difference. Scientific research is expensive and very few laboratories - public or private - focus on peripheral neuropathy. Corporate and government funding for this disorder is limited.

By making a gift to the Jack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy, you can support our efforts to identify the causes and potential cures for peripheral neuropathy, through research, and professional and public education. To send a donation by mail or fax, click on the link below to print the donor form, and send your check, payable to the Jack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy, or credit card information to:

The Jack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy
The University of Chicago
5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2030
Chicago, IL 60637
Fax: 773.702.5577

For additional information, please contact:

Nancy Herman, Director of Programs and Development
Jack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy
773.834.8973