Diagnosis of gluten sensitivity-related neurological dysfunction

How the identification of a disease biomarker has led to the development of a new diagnostic procedure.

Estimates indicate that sensitivity to gluten affects up to 1% of people in Western Europe and the USA. Yet only one in eight of those suffer from the typical gastrointestinal symptoms and inflammation of the bowel that is referred to as celiac disease.

It is now accepted that gluten sensitivity is a systemic autoimmune disease which can manifest in a wider range of organ systems.

A collaborative approach

Collaborative research between Cardiff University researchers led by Professor Aeschlimann and a team at Sheffield University led by Professor Hadjivassiliou has examined the disease in more detail.

The team’s work has provided molecular evidence that confirms that neurological dysfunction can occur from gluten sensitivity and it is associated with the development of an autoimmune response to transglutaminase 6 (TG6) (NICE 2014).

This led to Cardiff University researchers leading on the development of diagnostic tests based on these findings. Neurological presentations of gluten sensitivity are now recognised by clinicians and screening for anti-TG6 autoantibodies is used in diagnosis.

A new diagnosis

As a result of the team’s research, the effectiveness of patient care has increased considerably. Previously patients were difficult to diagnose which exascerbated their condition despite it being treatable.  Early diagnosis using the new biomarker can now:

• prevent irreversible neurological damage
• avoid the need for extensive clinical investigations in search of alternative aetiologies
• substantially reduce treatment costs.

Diagnostic kits for TG6 autoantibodies, as well as several other products relating to intellectual property on TG6, are distributed through a biotech company, Zedira.

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