Link Between Celiac Disease and Kidney Damage Uncovered in New Study

May 12, 2021

Celiac disease is an immune disorder where the body’s immune system reacts to gluten, found in wheat, cereal, rye, barley, and oats, as a threat. This reaction produces autoantibodies, specifically IgA-class tissue transglutaminase (tTG) autoantibodies, which are deposited in the small intestine and other organs.

Celiac disease has been suggested to be associated with IgA Nephropathy, a kidney condition caused by IgA antibody deposits leading to kidney inflammation and damage. Previous studies hinted that tTG might be involved in the development of IgA deposits in IgA Nephropathy and that a gluten-free diet could improve symptoms for IgA Nephropathy patients. However, the connection between celiac disease and IgA Nephropathy remains unclear.

In this study, researchers examined kidney biopsies from patients with IgA Nephropathy, including those with and without celiac disease. Among the nine patients studied, three with both conditions had IgA-tTG deposits in their kidneys, while the fourth patient, who followed a gluten-free diet, did not. In patients with only IgA Nephropathy, three out of five had these deposits.

The findings suggest that IgA-tTG deposits are present in the kidneys of patients with both conditions who consume gluten. However, due to the small sample size, further research with a larger population is needed to draw definitive conclusions.

Citation for report:

Nurmi, R., Korponay-Szabó, I., Laurila, K., Huhtala, H., Niemelä, O., Mustonen, J., Mäkelä, S., Kaukinen, K., & Lindfors, K. (2021). Celiac Disease-Type Tissue Transglutaminase Autoantibody Deposits in Kidney Biopsies of Patients with IgA Nephropathy. Nutrients, 13(5), 1594. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13051594