The study team included Luis Rodrigo, Carlos Hernández-Lahoz, Dolores Fuentes, Noemí Alvarez, Antonio López-Vázquez, and Segundo González.
They are affiliated variously with the departments of Gastroenterology, Immunology Services and neurology at the Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (HUCA) in Oviedo, Spain.
For the study, the team analyzed the prevalence of serological,histological and genetic celiac disease markers in 72 MS patients and 126 of their first-degree relatives. They then compared their results with data from 123 healthy control subjects.
The results showed 7 MS patients (10%) with positive screens for tissue IgA-anti-transglutaminase-2 antibodies, compared with just 3 positive screens for healthy controls (2.4%) (p < 0.05). OR: 5.33 (CI-95%: 1.074-26.425).
The team found no difference in HLA-DQ2 markers between MS patients (29%) and controls (26%) (NS). The team found 8 MS patients (11.1%) with mild or moderate villousatrophy (Marsh III type) in duodenal biopsies. Results also showed celiac disease in 26 of 126 first-degree relatives (32%).
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