CELIAC-DISEASE AND EPILEPSY IN PEDIATRIC-PATIENTS

Among 783 patients referred to our institute with different types of s eizures as presenting symptom, systematic evaluation of antigliadin an d antiendomysial antibodies in the serum has identified nine in whom j ejunal biopsy has subsequently confirmed the diagnosis of celiac disea se (CD). In three of them brain imaging showed the presence of calcifi ed areas in the occipital region. They had complex partial seizures (C PS), associated in two with transient episodes of blindness. In anothe r patient with CPS and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) progre ssive multifocal cerebral calcifications were noted. In the other six patients with CPS and/or GTCS cerebral calcifications were absent. Sym ptoms of CD in all these cases were either not previously taken into a ccount, or they were very mild or completely absent. In a group of 36 patients with clinically manifest CD, regular follow-up, and good comp liance with the dietary regimen, no clinical seizures were reported. T he pathogenetic mechanism and the relationship between epilepsy and an early diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease are discussed.