Cardiomyopathy in patients with celiac disease may be completely reversible with a gluten-free diet. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Cardiomyopathy associated with celiac disease.
Mayo Clin Proc. 2005 May;80(5):674-6. PMID: 15887437
Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA.
Celiac disease or celiac sprue is predominantly a disease of the small intestine characterized by chronic malabsorption in genetically susceptible individuals who ingest grains containing gluten, such as wheat, barley, and rye. Although previously believed to be uncommon, celiac disease may be present in up to 1% of the general population. Celiac disease is associated frequently with iron deficiency anemia, dermatitis herpetiformis, selective IgA deficiency, thyroid disorders, diabetes mellitus, and various connective tissue disorders but is rarely associated with cardiomyopathy. We describe a patient with celiac disease associated with cardiomyopathy whose cardiac function improved substantially after treatment with a gluten-free diet. Cardiomyopathy associated with celiac disease is a serious and potentially lethal condition. However, with early diagnosis and treatment with a gluten-free diet, cardiomyopathy in patients with celiac disease may be completely reversible.