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Published on: December 15, 2011
[Dilated cardiomyopathy and atrio-ventricular block in coeliac disease. Two case reports]
1Service de cardiologie, hôpital La Rabta, Tunis, Tunisie. sana.ouali@gnet.tn
Insights
Celiac disease can manifest as heart conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and heart block, even without digestive symptoms. Testing for celiac disease is crucial for unexplained cardiac issues, and a gluten-free diet may improve heart function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder typically associated with gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Cardiac manifestations of celiac disease are rare and not well-documented.
Observation:
- Two cases of celiac disease presenting with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and complete heart block were observed.
- Neither patient exhibited typical digestive symptoms of celiac disease.
Findings:
- Diagnosis of celiac disease was confirmed by antiendomysial antibodies (AEA) and duodenal biopsy.
- A gluten-free diet led to improved cardiac function in one patient.
- The gluten-free diet did not improve atrioventricular conduction in the affected patient.
Implications:
- These cases suggest a potential link between celiac disease and cardiac conditions like cardiomyopathy and heart block.
- Screening for celiac disease using antibody tests (antiendomysial and antigliadin) is recommended for patients with unexplained cardiac abnormalities.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of cardiac involvement in celiac disease and the impact of dietary interventions on cardiac performance.
Abstract:
We report two cases of celiac disease (CD) presented as an idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in association with a complete heart block in one patient, without digestive manifestation. The diagnosis of CD was obtained by both positivity of antiendomysial antibodies (AEA) and identification of the characteristic duodenal endoscopic and histological findings. Gluten-free diet improved the cardiac function in one patient but it had no effect on atrioventricular conduction in this same patient. These cases highlight the possible cardiac involvement in celiac disease and the relevance of antiendomysial and antigliadin antibodies test in case of rhythm disturbances and cardiomyopathies of unknown etiology. The effect of gluten free diet on cardiac performance was described.
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