Autoimmunity Features in Patients With Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Immunology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Non-celiac wheat sensitivity (NCWS) presents with diverse symptoms after wheat ingestion, distinct from celiac disease or wheat allergy.
• The relationship between NCWS and the development of autoimmune diseases (ADs) remains under-investigated.
• Understanding this association is crucial for comprehensive patient management and diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of autoimmune diseases (ADs) in patients diagnosed with NCWS.
• To assess the prevalence of specific autoantibodies in NCWS patients compared to control groups.
• To explore potential clinical factors associated with ADs in the NCWS population.

Main Methods:

• Ninety-one NCWS patients were evaluated, alongside 76 healthy blood donors (HBD) and 55 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as controls.
• Autoantibody levels, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haplotypes, and duodenal histology were assessed.
• Patient questionnaires and medical records were used to identify existing ADs.

Main Results:

• 25.3% of NCWS patients had diagnosed ADs, with autoimmune thyroiditis being the most common.
• The frequency of ADs was significantly higher in NCWS patients compared to both HBD and IBS controls.
• Positivity for antinuclear antibodies (71.4%) and extractable nuclear antigen antibodies (21.9%) was markedly elevated in NCWS patients versus controls.

Conclusions:

• Approximately one in four patients with NCWS also suffers from an autoimmune disease.
• The high rate of positive antinuclear antibodies in NCWS patients strongly suggests an association between NCWS and autoimmunity.
• These findings highlight the importance of screening for ADs in individuals with NCWS.