A test that takes pictures of the body

A condition in which part of the tissue in the intestines is destroyed. It occurs mainly in underweight newborns.

Related to the stomach and the duodenum, where pepsin is present.

The large vein that carries blood from the intestines and spleen to the liver.

The muscle between the stomach and the small intestine.

A hormone made in the duodenum that causes the stomach to make pepsin, the liver to make bile, and the pancreas to make digestive juices.

The buildup of fat in liver cells, commonly caused by alcoholism. Other causes include obesity, diabetes, and pregnancy. Also called fatty liver.

A disease that causes ulcers and irritation in the inner lining of the colon and rectum.

What Is Multiple Sclerosis?

M ultiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system characterized by patchy inflammation of the myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells that produces multiple and varied neurologic symptoms and signs due to demyelination.

Q: What does demyelination mean.

A: Demyelination means there is damage to the myelin sheath which is a fatty substance that surrounds and protects nerve cells much like a the covering of a lamp cord keeps the electricity flowing within it from the plug to the light bulb. This damage impairs transmission of nerve impulses between the brain and body.

In the process of demyelination, T-lymphocyte cells that are activated and potentially autoimmune cross the blood-brain barrier and produce inflammatory plaques and axonal tissue loss in the brain, spinal cord or optic (vision) nerves. The end result is the accumulation of gliosis (scarring) and demyelination of areas in the central nervous system.¹

The course of multiple sclerosis is unpredictable and slowly progressive, usually with  exacerbations (worse symptoms) and remissions (relief of symptoms).

Multiple sclerosis affects about 1 ‰ of the population worldwide.

What Is Multiple Sclerosis In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

1. Rodrigo L, Hernández-Lahoz C, Fuentes D, Alvarez N, López-Vázquez A, González S. Prevalence of celiac disease in multiple sclerosis. BMC Neurol. 2011 Mar 7;11:31. doi: 10.1186/1471-2377-11-31. [↩]

What Is Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis?

P ulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare and severe pulmonary syndrome characterized by a triad of recurrent episodes of alveolar hemorrhage (bleeding into air sacs), hemoptysis (coughing blood), and iron deficiency anemia.

Q: What is the prognosis for pulmonary hemosiderosis?

A: Untreated pulmonary hemosiderosis ends in death. Idiopathic is a term that means the cause of a condition is not known.

What Is Pulmonary Hemosiderosis In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?