Extra-intestinal manifestations of non-celiac gluten sensitivity: an expanding paradigm

Non celiac gluten sensitivity(NCGS) is a syndrome characterized by a cohort of symptoms related to the ingestion of gluten-containing food in subjects who are not affected by celiac disease(CD) or wheat allergy. The possibility of systemic manifestations in this condition has been suggested by some reports. In most cases they are characterized by vague symptoms such as ‘foggy mind', headache, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, leg or arm numbness even if more specific complaints have been described. NCGS has an immune-related background. Indeed there is a strong evidence that a selective activation of innate immunity may be the trigger for NCGS inflammatory response. The most commonly autoimmune disorders associated to NCGS are Hashimoto thyroiditis, dermatitis herpetiformis, psoriasis and rheumatologic diseases. The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported; it could be a characteristic feature that could help the diagnosis and be simultaneously managed. A possible neurological involvement has been underlined by NCGS association with gluten ataxia, gluten neuropathy and gluten encephalopathy. NCGS patients may show even psychiatric diseases such as depression, anxiety and psychosis. Finally, a link with functional disorders(irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia) is a topic under discussion. In conclusion, the novelty of this matter has generated an expansion of literature data with the unavoidable consequence that some reports are often based on low levels of evidence. Therefore, only studies performed on large samples with the inclusion of control groups will be able to clearly establish whether the large information from the literature regarding extra-intestinal NCGS manifestations could be supported by evidence-based agreements.

Evolution of nonspecific duodenal lymphocytosis over 2 years of follow-up

AIM: To assess the evolution of duodenal lymphocytosis(DL), a condition characterized by increased intraepithelial lymphocytes(IELs), over 2 years of follow-up.METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing upper endoscopy/histology for abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, weakness or other extraintestinal features compatible with celiac disease(CD) were included. Evaluation of IELs infiltrate in duodenal biopsy sampleswas carried out by CD3-immunohistochemistry and expressed as number of positive cells/100 enterocytes. Diagnostic agreement on the IELs count was tested by calculating the weighted k coefficient. All patients underwent serological detection of autoantibodies associated with CD: Ig G and Ig A anti-tissue transglutaminase and endomysium. Each patient underwent further investigations to clarify the origin of DL at baseline and/or in the course of 2 years of follow-up every six months. Autoimmune thyroiditis, intestinal infections, parasitic diseases, bacterial intestinal overgrowth, hypolactasia and wheat allergy were detected. Colonoscopy and enteric magnetic resonance i m a g i n g w e r e p e r f o r m e d w h e n n e c e s s a r y. R i s k factors affecting the final diagnosis were detected by multinomial logistic regression and expressed as OR.RESULTS: Eighty-five patients(16 males, 69 females, aged 34.1 ± 12.5 years) were followed up for a mean period of 21.7 ± 11.7 mo. At baseline, endoscopy/duodenal biopsy, CD3 immunohistochemistry revealed: > 25 IELs/100 enterocytes in 22 subjects, 15-25 IELs in 37 and < 15 IELs in 26. They all had negative serum anti-transglutaminase and anti-endomysium, whilst 5 showed Ig G anti-gliadin positivity. In the course of follow-up, 23 developed CD seropositivity and gluten sensitivity(GS) was identified in 19. Other diagnoses were: 5 Helicobacter pylori infections, 4 jejunal Crohn's disease, 1 lymphocytic colitis and 1 systemic sclerosis. The disease in the remaining 32 patients was classified as irritable bowel syndrome because of the lack of diagnostic evidence. At multivariate analysis, the evolution towards CD was associated with an IELs infiltrate > 25(OR = 1640.4) or 15-25(OR = 16.95), human leukocyte antigen(HLA) DQ2/8(OR = 140.85) or DQA1*0501(OR = 15.36), diarrhea(OR = 5.56) and weakness(OR = 11.57). GS was associated with IELs 15-25(OR = 28.59), autoimmune thyroiditis(OR = 87.63), folate deficiency(OR = 48.53) and diarrhea(OR = 54.87).CONCLUSION: DL may have a multifactorial origin but the IELs infiltrate and HLA are strong predictive factors for CD development and a clinical diagnosis of GS.

May the assessment of baseline mucosal molecular pattern predict the development of gluten related disorders among microscopic enteritis?

AIM To evaluate mucosal baseline m RNA expression of tissue transglutaminase 2(t TG2), interferon gamma(IFNγ), toll-like receptor 2(TLR2) and Myeloid Differentiation factor 88(MyD 88) in patients with microscopic enteritis(ME).METHODS We retrospectively enrolled 89 patients with ME of different etiology, which was defined within a 2-year mean period of follow-up. Baseline histological examination was performed on Hematoxylin-Eosin stained sections and CD3 lymphocyte immunohistochemistry was used for intraepithelial lymphocyte count(IELs). ME was defined according to the criteria of Bucharest Consensus Conference. For each patient, formalin embedded biopsy samples of the duodenum referred to the period of ME diagnosis were retrieved. Real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to detect the amount of mR NA coding for tT G2, IFNγ, TLR2 and My D88, and the quantity was expressed as fold change compared to controls. Control group was represented by duodenal normal specimens from 15 healthy subjects undergoing endoscopy for functional symptoms. Comparisons among continuous variables were performed by One way analysis of variance(ANOVA) and Bonferroni’s test. The χ~2 test was used for categorical variables. Pearson’s test was used to evaluate correlations. Receiver operating curves were drawn for all four markers to estimate sensitivity and specificity in discriminating the development of CD and GS.RESULTS After a period of follow up of 21.7 ± 11.7 mo, the following diagnoses were achieved: gluten related disorders in 48 subjects(31 CD; 17 GS) and non-gluten related ones in 41(29 Irritable Bowel Syndrome- IBS; 12 Others). CD patients had the highest tT G2 levels(8.3 ± 4.5). The ANOVA plus Bonferroni analysis showed that CD > Other ME > GS = IBS > negative controls. A cut off value of 2.258 was able to discriminate between CD and GS with a sensitivity of 52.94% and a specificity of 87.1%. Additionally, CD patients had the highest IFNγ levels(8.5 ± 4.1). ANOVA plus Bonferroni demonstrated CD > Other ME > GS = IBS > negative controls. A cut off of 1.853 was able to differentiate CD and GS with a sensitivity of 47.06% and a specificity of 96.77%. Patients with non gluten-related causes of ME exhibited the highest TLR2 levels(6.1 ± 1.9) as follows: Other ME > CD = GS = IBS > negative controls. TLR2 was unable to discriminate CD from GS. Patients with CD overexpressed MyD 88 levels similarly to non gluten-related causes of DL(7.8 ± 4.9 and 6.7 ± 2.9), thus CD = Other ME > GS = IBS > negative controls. A cut off of 3.722 was able to differentiate CD from GS with a sensitivity of 52.94% and a specificity of 74.19%. IELs count(15-25 and more than 25/100 enterocytes) strongly correlated with mR NA levels of all tested molecules(P < 0.0001).CONCLUSION Our results confirm that a single marker is unable to predict a discrimination among ME underlying conditions as well as between CD and GS. Mucosal high levels of t TG and IFNγ m RNA may predict the development of CD more than GS with high specificity, despite an expected low sensitivity. TLR2 does not discriminate the development of CD from GS. My D88 levels indicate that intestinal permeability is more increased when a severe intestinal damage underlies ME in both gluten related and unrelated conditions. Therefore, the results of the present paper do not seem to show a clear translational value.