According to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the prevalence of celiac disease in North America is around 0.71%, while the prevalence in Europe is higher, at approximately 1.4%. In Asia, the prevalence of celiac disease is lower, ranging from 0.03% to 0.4%. In South America, the prevalence is also relatively low, ranging from 0.2% to 0.8%.
Body Reaction:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Anemia
- Bone and joint pain
- Skin rash
- Mouth ulcers
- Headaches
Immune Complications:
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder, which means that the immune system attacks healthy tissue in the body. As a result, people with celiac disease are at increased risk of developing other autoimmune disorders, including:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Thyroid disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Dermatitis herpetiformis (a skin condition related to celiac disease)
In addition, people with celiac disease have an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer, particularly lymphoma and adenocarcinoma of the small intestine.
Diagnosis and Treatment:
Diagnosing celiac disease can be challenging, as the symptoms can be similar to those of other digestive disorders. However, blood tests can be used to detect antibodies that are present in people with celiac disease. A biopsy of the small intestine may also be performed to confirm the diagnosis.
Several studies have suggested that people with celiac disease may be at increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection. A study published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that patients with celiac disease who contracted COVID-19 had a significantly higher rate of hospitalization and ICU admission compared to patients without celiac disease.
Additionally, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that people with celiac disease had a higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection, with a higher likelihood of needing ICU care, mechanical ventilation, or dying from COVID-19.
here is a point-by-point analysis of the potential complications and relationship between COVID-19 and celiac disease:
- Intestinal damage: COVID-19 has been found to cause damage to the intestinal lining, which can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. This damage can also impact the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, potentially leading to malabsorption disorders like celiac disease.
- Dysbiosis: COVID-19 has been found to alter the gut microbiome, potentially leading to dysbiosis, an imbalance of gut bacteria. Dysbiosis has been associated with the development of celiac disease.
- Genetic predisposition: Certain genetic variants have been linked to an increased risk of developing both COVID-19 and celiac disease. For example, the HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 genes are associated with an increased risk of developing celiac disease, and have also been found to be involved in the immune response to COVID-19.
- Autoimmune reactions: COVID-19 may trigger autoimmune reactions in susceptible individuals, potentially leading to the development of celiac disease. Autoimmune reactions occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in the body, and can be triggered by a variety of factors including infections.
- Increased risk of severe illness: Individuals with celiac disease may be at an increased risk of severe illness if they contract COVID-19. This is because celiac disease can weaken the immune system and increase inflammation in the body, which can make it more difficult to fight off infections like COVID-19.
- Delayed diagnosis: The COVID-19 pandemic may have delayed the diagnosis of celiac disease in some individuals, as many routine medical appointments and procedures were postponed or cancelled during the pandemic. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease can lead to long-term complications and health problems.
- Long-term effects: Some individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 have reported persistent gastrointestinal symptoms and other health issues months after their initial infection. These long-term effects may increase the risk of developing celiac disease or other gastrointestinal disorders.
- Microbiome: COVID-19 can potentially alter the gut microbiome, leading to dysbiosis or an imbalance in gut bacteria. Dysbiosis has been associated with the development of celiac disease. In addition, celiac disease itself can lead to changes in the gut microbiome, and these changes may exacerbate the impact of COVID-19 on the gut.
- Immune system: Both COVID-19 and celiac disease can impact the immune system. COVID-19 can trigger an inflammatory response in the body, potentially leading to a cytokine storm or overreaction of the immune system. Similarly, celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues. Individuals with celiac disease may have a weakened immune system, making them more susceptible to infections like COVID-19.
- DNA damage: COVID-19 has been found to cause damage to the DNA in immune cells, potentially leading to long-term effects on the immune system. This DNA damage may also impact the development or progression of celiac disease, as there is some evidence to suggest that DNA damage can contribute to the development of autoimmune disorders like celiac disease.
- Genetic predisposition: Both COVID-19 and celiac disease have genetic components that may predispose individuals to these conditions. For example, certain genetic variants, such as the HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 genes, have been associated with an increased risk of developing celiac disease. These same genes may also be involved in the immune response to COVID-19.
- Increased risk of severe illness: Individuals with celiac disease may be at an increased risk of severe illness if they contract COVID-19. This is because celiac disease can weaken the immune system and increase inflammation in the body, making it more difficult to fight off infections like COVID-19.
A new research title “Critical COVID-19, Victivallaceae Abundance, and Celiac disease: A Mediation Mendelian Randomization Study”
investigates the potential causal relationship between COVID-19 and celiac disease through gut microbiota. Here is a summary of the findings:
The authors conducted a two-step Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the potential causal relationship between COVID-19 and celiac disease through gut microbiota. They used the largest celiac disease genome-wide association study to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the gut microbiota Victivallaceae and the associated genetic instrumental variants on celiac disease.
The study found that a higher critical COVID-19 was associated with a higher risk of celiac disease (inverse variance weighted [IVW], p=0·035; weighted median, p=0·035). The analysis also found a negative correlation between critical COVID-19 and Victivallaceae abundance (IVW, p=0·045; weighted median, p=0·036), as well as a negative association between Victivallaceae abundance and celiac disease (IVW, p=0·016; weighted median, p=0·031).
These findings suggest that higher COVID-19 is causally connected with lower Victivallaceae abundance, which increases the risk of celiac disease. However, it is important to note that this study only investigated the potential causal relationship between COVID-19 and celiac disease through gut microbiota, and further research is needed to fully understand the impact of COVID-19 on individuals with celiac disease.
reference link :https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4409348
