Sjogren’s Syndrome and Celiac Disease The relationship between the two.
How Gluten is the root to many of the symptoms in both, I have Sjogren’s and have tested this in my life when I don’t eat the gluten products I feel fine but when I do eat gluten products it produces inflammation in my joints, and it effects my nervous system it even effects my skin and it produces fatigue. I would like to share with you my experience and also what I have done to fight this battle. By researching Celiac disease I have found out about the sojgren’s. It has made me more aware of the similarities what to do and what not to do and it has helped me. The links listed here are places I have been to educate myself about these syndromes. I am hoping that this will educate and help people be aware of where the root is to how they feel and what they eat really does effect the way their body reacts.
Here are some information to start out with and the link follows where you can go read the rest of the story on these subjects.
What Gluten Can Do
Gluten – Not a Friendly Protein
Gluten is a protein found in grains. Research has shown it to be toxic to certain individuals in the grains of wheat, rye, barley, and oats. While gluten is essential for the make-up of these 4 grains, our bodies do not need it. Is it healthful? The protein in today’s wheat is poorly digested and can be harmful. An estimated 95% of prepared foods on the grocery shelves contain the toxic forms of gluten.
Gluten Sensitivity: When Gluten Gets into Our Bloodstream
Gluten Sensitivity is an immune response to gluten that can happen to anyone. This type of response is not inherited like Celiac Disease. Rather, it involves a normal response to the abnormal appearance of gluten in the body.
http://glutenfreeworks.com/gluteninformation.php
National Foundation For Celiac Awareness
http://www.celiaccentral.org/What_is_Celiac_/13/
What is Sjögren’s syndrome?
Sjögren’s syndrome is a disorder of the immune system characterized most often by dry eyes and a dry mouth. Since it is an autoimmune disorder, the body attacks its own cells and tissues. It remains unknown why this happens, but researchers believe that a combination of factors causes something to go wrong with the immune system. These factors may be related to heredity, hormones, a viral or bacterial infection, or the nervous system. In the case of Sjögren’s syndrome, white blood cells called lymphocytes target, attack and damage the moisture-producing glands. This can lead to problems such as difficulty swallowing, dental cavities and vision problems. Sjögren’s syndrome can also result in damage to tissues of the lungs, kidneys and liver.
Sjögren’s syndrome that results from a rheumatic condition is classified as secondary Sjögren’s syndrome. Primary Sjögren’s syndrome occurs by itself.
Although there’s no cure for Sjögren’s syndrome, treatments can relieve many of the symptoms.
The Connection Between Celiac and Sjögren’s:
* Both celiac disease and Sjögren’s syndrome have an autoimmune background and a close association.
* Sjögren’s syndrome had a ten times greater incidence in one study compared to non-celiacs.
* In another study, the prevalence of celiac disease amongst patients with Sjögren’s syndrome has been found to be between 4.5% and 15%.
* According to Patinen et al., the co-occurrence of celiac disease and Sjögren’s syndrome should be recognized because of its effects on dental and oral mucosal health. In their 1994 study, they suggested that a gluten-free diet treatment might alleviate autoimmune inflammation.
* On the basis of their findings, Szodoray et al. recommend screening, follow-up, and regular gastrointestinal care of Sjögren’s syndrome patients to identify celiac disease cases and help them to avoid severe malnutrition and intestinal malignancies.
Signs and symptoms
Sjögren’s syndrome can be difficult to diagnose because the signs and symptoms are similar to those caused by other diseases and can vary from person to person. In addition, the side effects of a number of medications can mimic some signs and symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome. Still, typical signs and symptoms of Sjögren’s include:
* Dry eyes
* Dry mouth
* Dental cavities
* Fatigue
* Fever
* Enlarged parotid glands – one particular set of your salivary glands, located behind your jaw and in front of your ears
* Difficulty swallowing or chewing
* Change in sense of taste
* Hoarseness
* Oral yeast infections, such as candidiasis
* Irritation and mild bleeding in your nose
* Skin rashes or dry skin
* Vaginal dryness
* Dry cough that doesn’t produce sputum
* Joint pain, swelling and stiffness
Who gets Sjögren’s Sydrome?
Although anyone can develop Sjögren’s syndrome, it typically occurs in people with one or more known risk factors. These include:
* It is common for people who have Sjögren’s syndrome to also have a rheumatic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma or polymyositis.
* Women are nine times as likely as men are to have Sjögren’s syndrome.
* Sjögren’s syndrome is usually diagnosed in people older than 40.
* Having a family history of Sjögren’s.
Screening and diagnosis
Beyond reviewing your medical history, current medications and diet, the doctor can use various tests to diagnose Sjögren’s syndrome, such as a blood test, tear test, imaging, biopsy, urine sample and a slit-lamp exam.
Please post a comment with any information you may add to this topic so others can benefit from this. My main purpose here is to educate people on what is happening to their systems when they eat certain foods. So many people don’t realize where the main source is coming from when they hurt in their body’s. There may not be cures but we can control the amount of pain by going with certain guidelines in their diets.
Another problem that I am looking for solutions on is bursitis and tendenitis in my shoulder again when I stay away from gluten products the inflammation stays low and I feel low pain.
My gosh Pattie-this could have been written by me!
I too did a lot of research on both of these AI’s after being diagnosed with Sjogren’s (finally!!) and a sister with Celiac’s and Sjogren’s symptoms.
As we all know people can be genitically predisposed to Celiac’s. Doctor’s would not believe me, in either case, until my symptoms got so bad I was practically hospitalized. Anyway, I have been off gluten for just over a year and am off the “Sjogren’s” medications prescribed by a Rheumitologist as well.
I rarely have debilitating symptoms now unless I eat out a bunch of times in a row. (Even with gluten free dishes there is not a lot of common knowledge on cross-contamination, so this can be a problem!) Just being off the drugs has been a blessing, still, and I know for sure that both diseases are connected in my case.
Thank you for sharing and helping to confirm this for me and others!
Hi TMR
I have 28 years.
I have celiakie and Sjogren syndrome
Celiakie diagnosed in December 2008 and since then I am on the gluten-free diet.
My visceral disease antibodies not yet dropped to zero.
Here is a description of the biopsy:
A section of the small intestine mucosa with a completely smooth surface, without outlines of villi and intestinal crypts.
The stroma shows an intense chronic plasma cell inflammation.
Intraepithelial lymphocytes >40 IEL/100 EC.
The morphological picture corresponds to villous atrophy IIIc grade acc. to Marsh classification.
In February I was in the hospital or the ward reumatological, which stated Sjogren syndrome.
RF is normal
C3 is normal
C4 is normal
ANA is negative
Anca C is normal
p anca is normal
Diagnosis made by biopsy of salivary glands.
Reumatologist said that this is a complication untreated celiac that this is a secondary Sjogren syndrome and that this is like a disease.
Teasing me a dry mouth and eyes. I have dry skin on the face and hands, the rest of the skin is well moistened.
Write me when you resolved the symptoms of Sjogren.
Do you immediately after the introduction of gluten-free diet?
Do you only after the complete disappearance of celiac?
When you take not medicines from reumatologist, I have taken steroids, but they exacerbated my osteoporosis.
I would like to know when the place for me to improve.
My e-mail: chojny997@wp.pl
Pattie,
Thanks for your information. This is exactly what I have been searching for.
My mother was diagnosed with primary sjogrens at the age of 50. Twenty-one years later she is still alive but has severe stomach problems and papillary thyroid cancer that was diagnosed too late. It has gone to her lungs.
When I turned 50 last year, I got it too. I have done a lot of research and found the sjogrens/gluten link. I started the diet right away. I have been on it for a year now although I have knowingly eaten wheat twice and found that each time I experienced pain in my parotid glands and other salivary glands deep in my mouth.
Luckily, I have no fatigue ( I teach Phys. Ed. and run about 20 miles a week). I take fish oil, primrose oil, green tea supplements (as well as drink 5 cups a day). Probiotics too and Aloe Vera pulp.
I love talking to people with similar problems. As well meaning as the Dr.s are, I think that they discount the digestion/immune problems link.
Very interesting. I have sjogrens syndrome and now my daughter is being tested for ciliac disease. Both have some similer ailments.
I’m so glad that this information was useful in your research about Sojgren’s. I really want people to get through the symptoms as easily as possible. No one truly knows what these symptoms are like unless you live with them daily or when flare ups occur talking with others really helps and we can learn together on what works and what doesn’t.
I haven’t checked into this blog in a while I’m glad I did. My main purpose was to reach out to others and help them realize what they can do that many doctors won’t tell them.
Those who are taking the oils are doing the right thing. Staying away from gluten is important too. It may not solve all the symptoms or heal the disease but it is the right steps into having a normal life or as close to normal.
Please, if anyone would like to call me for support here is my phone number 931-657-1993
I come from Poland
Coeliac and sjogren
I was diagnosed with sojgrens Nov 2008, Have been on Imuren 50mg since then plus low doses of prednosone, would love to hear from anyone about how long the Neuropathy which l have very bad in my feet and lower legs.plus other areas of my body, the feet issue is the worst it makes me very of balance, it is better and l have been able to return to work,be it only part-time, l realise every one is different with this disease, but would love some feed back please. thanks Jackie Lee
mY DAUGTHER AND GRANDDAUGHTER HAVE BEEN GLUTEN FREE FOR 1 1/2 YEARS. wHAT A CHANGE IN MYT GRANDDAUGHTER. SHE IS NOW A HAPPY, OUT GOING CHILD.
I HAVE SJO’GRENS. sHE HAS BEEN AFTER ME TO O GLUTEN FREE BUT DRS SAY THERE IS NO CONNECTION AND I HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH ANY INFO ON IT EITHER. THANKS TO YOU NOW I HAVE.
ONE QUESTION FOR EVERYONE. BESIDES THE VERY DRY MOUTH AND EYES, MY FINGERNAILS ARE NOW SOFT. BREAK & SPLIT EASILY. THEY ARE DOWN TO THE QUICK. NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP THEM. ANY ONE ELSE HAVING THIS PROBLEM?
THANKS FOR ALL THIS INFO.
MARILYN
Marilyn-Do you take Vitamin D3 supplements? If not, you are probably deficient. I saw a Sjogren’s specialist this winter and she advised taking about 4000 IU’s a day. I know it sounds like a lot but the levels in your blood should be at least 50 or above. Check it out. There is so much research out there about it now. Many doctors do not agree on the amount that you need. It took about 5 months for my nails to harden but it worked. It also seemed to help the inflammation in my parotid glands from Sjogren’s.
Hehe I’m honestly the first reply to this incredible post?!?