Gluten migraine

Abstract

Coeliac disease (CD) has been associated with various neurological disorders, the most common being neuropathy, ataxia and migraine. The aims of the present study were to assess the following: 1) the prevalence of migraine in patients affected by CD and 2) the effects of a gluten free diet in CD patients with migraine. 376 patients with CD had direct interviews and full physical and neurological examinations. The diagnosis of migraine was based on criteria of the IHS in 1988. The diagnosis of CD was confirmed endoscopically and by serum IgG antitransglutaminase (TgA) and IgA antiendomysia (EmA). Control group consisted of 234 patients suffering from reflux-esophagitis. The diagnosis was confirmed endoscopically. A gluten free diet was started in the patients diagnosed with CD associated with migraine, who were followed for 6 months. Migraine occurred in 161 (43%) of the 376 patients studied and in 25 (11%) of the 234 control group patients. An increased prevalence of migraine was observed in the coeliac patients. A gluten free diet may lead to an inprovement in the migraine in these patients.