SLE = A Gluten Allergy?

While perusing the net the other day, I came across a site that I found pretty interesting. This website implied that there was evidence that some people who have been diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus may actually be suffering from a gluten allergy.

I remember a couple of years back, my naturopathic doctor put me on a gluten free diet. I wonder if she read this somewhere too? I know that after going on the gluten free diet, the stomach aches that kicked my butt on a nearly daily basis subsided. I only wish that I didn’t get that perforated bowel and remained on the diet. But again, the lack of gluten in my diet was really causing me to lose a lot of weight.

The article goes on to explain a study that was conducted. The study consisted of 3 people who have had and were being treated for SLE for years. Apparently all 3 of these patients no longer experienced any of the symptoms of Lupus nor did they have any more abnormal lab results after going gluten free. It also states that they were able to disontinue their SLE medications too.

These 3 patients were found to have had antibodies in their blood against something called gliadin, which is a protein in foods that contain gluten. All 3 of these patients showed great improvement in their illness after removing that gluten from their diet. Some people have felt that gluten may be a contributing factor in SLE, but doctors don’t generally take that into consideration when they’re dealing with SLE patients. Kinda sad!

If you would like to read the article yourself, here it is: http://www.bastyrcenter.org/content/view/703/

This is a coincidence to me because just last week I asked my nurse to ask my doctor of there were any blood tests that can be taken to see whether or not I have a gluten allergy. Those tests were taken on Friday Feb 8, just a few days before I came across this article. When I discussed this with one of my doctors, she told me that even if the tests came back and said I tested negative for a gluten allergy, the blood tests weren’t 100%. A scope of my stomach can apparently also help determine this. While I’d REALLY like to know, and I’ve done a lot of tests in my life, I simply don’t do well with scopes. It doesn’t matter WHERE that scope is going….I hate them! I was supposed to get a scope when I was at the hospital about a year ago and simply couldn’t do it. As soon as I saw that thing coming for my mouth, I started gagging continuously. After a while they had to pull the thing out or else I would have choked to death! I can’t remember now, but I think eventually they had to sedate me.

Well, in the name of finding out whether Lupus and gluten are someone connected, I think I had better start up on that gluten free diet again. But I think I’m gonna wait for tbose blood results to come back….which can take anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks! 🙁

This could turn out to be a very interesting experiment!