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Brain Blood Flow Abnormalities 

blood perfusion gluten celiac diseaseWhat Are Brain Blood Flow Abnormalities?

[dropcap]B[/dropcap]rain blood flow abnormalities, or cerebral perfusion abnormalities, such as spasm of blood vessels causing inadequate blood flow to the brain, are characterized by impaired brain function and thinking.

Q: What is cerebral perfusion?

A: Cerebral perfusion is the flow of blood in the brain. Blood supply to the brain comes from 4 major vessels: 2 carotid arteries and 2 vertebral arteries.

Cerebral perfusion abnormalities can be diagnosed using perfusion computed tomography (CT). CT scan is a technique that allows rapid qualitative and quantitative evaluation of cerebral perfusion by generating maps of cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and mean transit time (MTT). The technique is based on the central volume principle (CBF = CBV/MTT) and requires the use of commercially available software employing complex deconvolution algorithms to produce the perfusion maps.

Perfusion CT has been found to be useful for noninvasive diagnosis of cerebral ischemia (diminished blood flow) and infarction (no blood flow) and for evaluation of vasospasm (intermittent blood flow through vessels).1

What Are Brain Blood Flow Abnormalities In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:
  1. Hoeffner E, Case I, Jain R, et al. Cerebral Perfusion CT: Technique and Clinical Applications. June 2004 Radiology, 231, 632-644. [↩]

Aphthous Ulcers (Canker Sores) 

Aphthous_ulcer[1]What Are Aphthous Ulcers?

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]phthous ulcers, also called canker sores, are a chronic disorder of soft mouth tissue characterized by small, painful purpuric, papular, or erosive lesions that are often surrounded by erythematous (red) margins.1

Q: What soft mouth tissues develop canker sores?

A: Canker sores can erupt on the mucosal surface of the inside lip, sides of mouth, under the tongue and along the side of the tongue. When they are forming, the area swells into a papule, or small bump. Later, the surface erodes and a crater forms with firm pus.

What Are Aphthous Ulcers In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:
  1. Lahteenoja H, Toivanen A, Viander M, Maki M, Irjala K, Raiha I, Syrjanen S. Oral mucosal changes in coeliac patients on a gluten-free diet. European Journal of Oral Sciences. Oct 1998;106(5):899,8p. [↩]

Oral Mucosal Lesions, Chronic (Mouth Soreness)

Canker Sore Inside Mouth. Notice The White Spot on This Person's Nail Showing Zinc Deficiency.
Inflammation/Sore Inside Mouth. Notice White Spot on Fingernail Nail Showing Zinc Deficiency.

What Are Chronic Oral Mucosal Lesions?

Chronic lesions of the oral mucosa are disorders of the mouth that are characterized by soreness and sores of the soft mucosal lining of the mouth.

What Are Chronic Oral Mucosal Lesions In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Abdominal Pain, Chronic or Recurrent

What Is Chronic Or Recurrent Abdominal Pain? [dropcap]A[/dropcap]bdominal pain is characterized by pain anywhere in the abdominal cavity between the chest and groin. This region is often referred to as the belly. Abdominal pain, or… 

Macrocytosis

Comparison of normoblast and megaloblastWhat Is Macrocytosis?

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]acrocytosis is a blood cell disorder characterized by altered blood cell formation that results in abnormally large erythrocytes (red blood cells) circulating in the bloodstream.

The mean corpuscular volume (MCV), which is a measure of the size of red blood cells in the bloodstream, is greater than 100 fL as shown in a complete blood count (CBC) laboratory analysis report.

Macrocytosis produces macrocytic anemias that are classified as megaloblastic or non-megaloblastic:

  1. Megaloblastic anemias result from disorders of DNA synthesis of red blood cell precursors (megaloblasts) in bone marrow due to B vitamin deficiency demonstrated by macro-ovalocytes and hypersegmented neutrophils.1
  2. Non-megaloblastic anemias are or those caused primarily by alcoholism, liver disease and hypothyroidism.2

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

Sources:
  1. Kaferle J, Strzoda CE.Evaluation of macrocytosis. Am Fam Physician. 2009 Feb 1;79(3):203-8. [↩]
  2. Davenport J. Macrocytic anemia. Am Fam Physician. 1996 Jan;53(1):155-62. [↩]

Atherosclerosis

ahterosclerosis celiac disease complication symtpomWhat Is Atherosclerosis?

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]therosclerosis is a disease of arteries involving the buildup of fatty material called plaque along the walls of medium and large arteries characterized by patchy subintimal thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of blood vessels.

The intima is the innermost layer of an artery, having contact with blood. The subintima is beneath it.

Q: What happens when arteries become narrowed and less flexible?

A: Narrowing of the inside diameter of blood vessels and hardening of their walls reduce or obstruct blood flow through them which impairs their ability to supply tissues of the body with oxygen and nourishment.

When tissues are deprived of oxygen, pain and dysfunction results such as angina pectoris involving heart muscle because the heart continually needs oxygen never being able to rest.

It is thought that atherosclerosis develops from 1) epithelial cell dysfunction of the intima, and 2) lipid (fat) accumulation in smooth muscle cells and in foam cells, causing buildup of fatty deposits on the inside walls progressing to fibrous plaque formation. That is, intimal smooth muscle cells are surrounded by connective tissue and intracellular and extracellular lipids (fat build-up inside and outside of these cells).

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