Celiac sprue: a unique autoimmune disorder

Abstract

Celiac sprue (CS) is a gluten-sensitive enteropathy with many autoimmune features. CS involves multiple organs through immune and nonimmune processes, and is frequently associated with other autoimmune disorders. This article reviews the co-occurrence of CS with autoimmune disorders of the cutaneous, nervous, endocrine, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems. The types of autoimmune disorders associated with CS and the prevalence of CS in other autoimmune disorders are also discussed. A brief review of the literature on the potential mechanisms behind these associations and the therapeutic effects of a gluten-free diet for autoimmune comorbidities in CS is also provided.

Keywords::

• ataxia
• autoimmune
• autoimmune biliary cirrhosis
• autoimmune hepatitis
• celiac sprue
• dermatitis herpetiformis
• neuropathy
• Sjögren’s syndrome
• thyroid disorder
• Type 1 diabetes

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported in part by NIH grants DK 71003 and DK 57892, as well as the Iacocca Foundation (MA, USA). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.