Professional paper
Case report of patient with tetraparesis related to celiac disease
Jasmin Nikšić
Saša Moslavac
Ivan Džidić
Abstract
Celiac disease or gluten enteropathy is an immune mediated disease of the small intestine with malabsorption, and with possible neurological complications. We present a patient who lost 15 kg in weight at the age of 25, 6 years ago and the disease typical indigestion problems were followed by subsequent progressive tetraparesis with inability of ambulation, nystagmus and diplopia. Diagnosis of celiac disease was made serologically, and cerebellitis was confirmed neuroradiologically. After the diagnosis, she was treated with corticosteroid therapy and immunoglobulins, was put on a gluten-free diet and underwent continuous function-specific rehabilitation procedures. We observed a gradual recovery from tetraparesis, improvement in activities and
participation, and she is currently ambulatory independent using a walker for short distances, and also in most activities of daily living. During the latest inpatient rehabilitation session we observed improvement of gait speed by 14 % in 21 days. This case report warns of the possibility of neurological complications in celiac disease patients, and of the importance of synergistic effect of gluten-free diet, while neurological and continuous rehabilitation procedures in our patient led to functional improvement.
Keywords
celiac disease; gluten-free diet; cerebellitis; tetraparesis; rehabilitation
Hrčak ID:
234907
URI
Publication date:
20.10.2017.
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