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Cortical Calcifying Angiomatosis

A. CT scan shows coarse calcification. B. MRI shows frontal atrophy. C: Intra-operative leptomeningeal angiomatosis. Courtesy intechopen.com "Epilepsy Surgery in Children" by V. Terra, A, Sakamoto, H. Machado
A. CT scan shows coarse calcification. B. MRI shows frontal atrophy (shrinkage). C: Intra-operative angiomatosis. Courtesy intechopen.com “Epilepsy Surgery in Children” by V. Terra, A Sakamoto, H. Machado

What Is Cortical Calcifying Angiomatosis?

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]ortical calcifying angiomatosis is a cortical vascular (brain blood vessel) abnormality that is characterized by calcification of blood vessels and is usually present in the parietal or occipital cortical and subcortical regions of the brain.1

The brain has 2 sides or hemispheres. Each side has 4 lobes, making 8 lobes altogether: 2 frontal lobes behind the forehead, 2 temporal lobes at ear level, 2 occipital lobes make up the rear of the brain, and 2 parietal lobes located behind the frontal lobes and above the temporal lobes.

Q: How do calcifications of blood vessels appear?

A: Calcium deposits are jagged owing to natural crystal formation by calcium, which is a mineral.

What Is Cortical Calcifying Angiomatosis In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:
  1. Wills AJ. The neurology and neuropathology of celiac disease. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology. 2000:26:493-496. [↩]

Epilepsy (Convulsions)

epilepsy brain gluten celiac symptomsWhat Is Epilepsy?

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]pilepsy is a dysfunctional disorder of the brain characterized by recurring seizures also called convulsions.

Q: What happens in a seizure?

A: During a seizure  abnormal electrical discharges occur within the brain. Not all seizures have the same intensity or involvement.

Seizures can be generalized, partial  or unclassified.

  • Generalized siezures affect both sides of the brain and the individual usually loses consciousness.
  • Partial affect one part of the brain and the individual usually is awake.

What Is Epilepsy In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Migraine (Headache)

Image of migraine. Courtesy wikimedia.
Image of Migraine Development. Courtesy wikimedia.

What Is Migraine?

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]igraine is a neurologic disorder characterized by reduced cerebral blood flow that causes a severe headache. The pain is usually on one side of the head, pulsates, and is aggravated by bodily exertion that increases blood pressure.

The type of migraine can be classic with an aura or non-classic without an aura.

Classic migraine begins with an aura that develops over minutes and may last up to an hour before, during, or after the headache. Some people can tell when they are about to have a migraine because they see flashing lights or zigzag lines or they temporarily lose their vision.

Q: What does the aura signify?

A: According to the International Headache Society, an aura signifies an area of brain dysfunction. An aura is different from a trigger. A trigger brings on a migraine while an aura is a response to decreased blood flow.

A study investigating what triggers a migraine found these statistics in 1027 participants of whom 75.9% reported triggers (40.4% infrequently, 26.7% frequently and 8.8% very frequently).

The trigger frequencies were stress (79.7%), hormones in women (65.1%), not eating (57.3%), weather (53.2%), sleep disturbance (49.8%), perfume or odour (43.7%), neck pain (38.4%), light(s) (38.1%), alcohol (37.8%), smoke (35.7%), sleeping late (32.0%), heat (30.3%), food (26.9%), exercise (22.1%) and sexual activity (5.2%).1

Migraine affects about 12% of the U.S. general popululation. It is three times more common in women than in men.

What Is Migraine In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:
  1. Kelman L. The triggers or precipitants of the acute migraine attack. Cephalalgia. 2007 May;27(5):394-402. Epub 2007 Mar 30. [↩]

Occipital Lobe Epilepsy With Cerebral Calcifications

CT scan showing brain calcifications. Courtesy Wikimedia
CT scan showing brain calcifications. Courtesy Wikimedia

What Is Occipital Lobe Epilepsy With Cerebral Calcifications?

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ccipital lobe epilepsy with cerebral calcifications is a seizure disorder that develops from calcium deposits in the brain.

This condition is characterized by repetitive abnormal electrical discharges within the brain that may manifest as paroxysmal, or sudden recurrence of, visual disturbances.

Q: Where is the occipital lobe?

A: The occipital lobe is one of four lobes of the cerebrum, or upper brain. It comprises the lower rear portion of the cerebrum and mainly processes visual images coming to  it from the eyes through the optic nerve.

In this image of the left side of the brain, the occipital lobe is pink. From Wikimedia.                                                                                      Drawing shows the 4 lobes of the human brain on the left side. The occipital lobe is pink. Courtesy Wikimedia

What Is Occipital Lobe Epilepsy With Cerebral Calcifications In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Anorexia or Loss of Appetite

anorexia nervosa celiac disease gluten symptomWhat Is Anorexia?

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]norexia or loss of appetite is a reduced desire to eat which can cause unintentional weight loss.

Anorexia is a feature of many disorders caused by malutrition such as celiac disease and aging or gastrointestinal problems such as chronic gastroenteritis, and dysgeusia (loss of taste).

Q: Are there other conditions that cause anorexia?

A: Other underlying problem include medication side effects, infection, chronic pain, depression, grief, dehydration, hormonal dysfunction such as thyroid disease, primary hyperparathyroidism, or Addison’s disease, autoimmune mechanisms such as sarcoidosis,  and cancer growth.

What Is Anorexia In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Increased Appetite

increased appetite gluten celiac symptomWhat Is Increased Appetite?

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]ncreased appetite is the increased desire for food.

Q: What causes appetite.

A: Appetite is caused by hunger.

The brain monitors nutritional needs and employs a hunger mechanism to alert us when fresh food is needed. Hunger is mainly caused by the need for protein. Low blood sugar also triggers hunger.

The tempting sight, smell, taste and expectation of food stimulates involuntary sensory nerves. By reflex action, these sensory nerves cause muscle and sensory activity in various digestive organs. Salivary glands in the mouth begin to secrete saliva as stomach glands and muscles become active.1

What Is Increased Appetite In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:
  1. Cleo Libonati. Recognizing Celiac Disease. Gluten Free Works Publishing, Fort Washington, PA 19034 USA [↩]