Peripheral neuropathy linked to celiac disease - Brief Article

AORN Journal, July, 2003

A recent study has found that 5% of patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy have celiac disease, according to a May 27, 2003, news release from The Neuropathy Association. Celiac disease results from an allergy to gluten in wheat products and affects approximately one out of every 150 people. Approximately 20 million people in the United States have peripheral neuropathy, which can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in the arms and legs. If left untreated, neuropathy can progress to debilitation.

Patients with celiac disease tended to experience small fiber neuropathy, which causes severe burning, stinging, and electric shock type pains. This type of neuropathy frequently is misdiagnosed because it is not detectable using routine neuropathy tests. Treatment for celiac disease consists of altering patients' diet to eliminate gluten and foods that contain wheat.

The study also found that one-third of neuropathy patients who had celiac disease did not exhibit gastrointestinal symptoms (eg, malabsorption, abdominal pain, diarrhea) commonly associated with celiac disease. Based on this information, physicians should consider testing patients with unexplained neuropathy for celiac disease, regardless of whether they are experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms.

Common Food Sensitivity Linked to Painful Peripheral Neuropathy (news release, New York: The Neuropathy Association, May 27, 2003) http://www.prnewswire.com (accessed 27 May 2003).