Neurological Complications of Coeliac Disease

Abstract

Coeliac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune enteropathy of the small intestine that occurs in genetically predisposed individuals. It is characterized by atrophy of intestinal villi accompanied by an increase in the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and crypt hypertrophy as well as the presence of specific endomysial antibodies (EMA), IgA tissue transglutaminase antibodies (IgA-tTG), and IgA and IgG deaminated gliadin peptide antibodies (DGP IgA and IgG). CD is associated with a wide spectrum of clinical signs and symptoms secondary to malabsorption (vitamin deficiency, anaemia, osteoporosis) or unrelated to the gastrointestinal tract. Neurological disorders are a common problem in patients with CD and are not always accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms. The most common neurological manifestations of CD are cerebellar ataxia, epilepsy, and peripheral neuropathy.