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Headache and CNS white matter abnormalities associated with gluten sensitivity
M Hadjivassiliou1, R A Grünewald, M Lawden
1Department of Clinical Neurology, The Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. m.hadjivassiliou@sheffield.ac.uk
Neurology
|February 15, 2001
Summary
Gluten sensitivity can cause neurological issues like headache and ataxia, visible on MRI scans. A gluten-free diet significantly improved symptoms in most affected patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gastroenterology
- Radiology
Background:
- Gluten sensitivity is an emerging condition with diverse clinical manifestations.
- Neurological symptoms are increasingly recognized in individuals with non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in gluten sensitivity are not well-characterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical and MRI findings in patients with gluten sensitivity.
- To investigate the relationship between gluten sensitivity and neurological abnormalities.
- To assess the efficacy of a gluten-free diet in managing these symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Case series of 10 patients diagnosed with gluten sensitivity.
- Clinical assessment including neurological examination and symptom reporting.
- Brain MRI to evaluate for white matter abnormalities.
Main Results:
- All 10 patients reported episodic headache; 6 experienced unsteadiness, and 4 had gait ataxia.
- MRI revealed varied white matter abnormalities, including confluent high signal areas and scattered foci.
- Nine out of 10 patients showed symptomatic improvement on a gluten-free diet.
Conclusions:
- Gluten sensitivity can be associated with significant neurological symptoms and detectable white matter changes on MRI.
- A gluten-free diet appears to be an effective treatment for neurological manifestations of gluten sensitivity.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the pathophysiology linking gluten, neurological symptoms, and MRI findings.