Epilepsy, cerebral calcifications and celiac disease
Ferroir, J.P.; Fenelon, G.; Billy, C.; Huon, R.; Herry, J.P.
Revue Neurologique (Paris) 153(5): 354-356
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-3787 PMID: 9296173 Document Number: 472803
Epilepsy, frequently with complex partial seizures, is observed in 5.5 p. 100 of all cases of celiac sprue. Bilateral parieto-occipital calcifications in the cortical or subcortical areas are found in about one-half of these patients. This triple association is apparently not fortuitous. Prognosis of epilepsy would depend on how early the gluten-free diet was started. The diagnosis of celiac sprue should be entertained in patients with brain calcifications and epilepsy. Search for anti-endomysium antibodies could provide useful information although villosity atrophy in the proximal portion of the small bowel and its regression with gluten-free diet remain the essential elements for the diagnosis of celiac sprue.