Increased risk of epilepsy in biopsy-verified celiac disease
- 1 May 2012
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Neurology
- Vol. 78 (18), 1401-1407
- https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3182544728
Abstract
Objectives: Celiac disease (CD) is associated with several neurologic disorders but it is unclear whether CD is associated with epilepsy. We therefore investigated whether biopsy-verified CD is associated with epilepsy. Methods: Cohort study. Using biopsy report data from all Swedish pathology departments (n = 28), we identified individuals with CD who were diagnosed from 1969 to 2008 (Marsh 3: villous atrophy). Through Cox regression, we calculated hazard ratios (HRs) for epilepsy (defined as a diagnosis of epilepsy in the Swedish National Patient Register) in 28,885 individuals with CD and 143,166 controls matched for age, sex, calendar period, and county. Results: Individuals with CD were at an increased risk of future epilepsy (HR = 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.24–1.62) (272 individuals with CD had a diagnosis of epilepsy vs an expected 192). The absolute risk of future epilepsy in patients with CD was 92/100,000 person-years (excess risk = 27/100,000 person-years). This risk increase was seen in all ages, including children with CD. The HR for having at least 2 interactions with health care due to epilepsy was 1.41 (95% CI = 1.19–1.66). When we restricted epilepsy to those with both a diagnosis of epilepsy and an independent record of antiepileptic drug prescriptions, CD was associated with a 1.43-fold increased risk of epilepsy (95% CI = 1.10–1.86). Conclusion: Individuals with CD seem to be at a moderately increased risk of epilepsy.Keywords
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