Celiac Disease (Polymyositis: Can a gluten-free diet help?)

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Polymyositis: Can a gluten-free diet help?

Can a gluten-free diet help a person with polymyositis?

It's not known if a gluten-free diet improves the signs and symptoms of polymyositis. Standard treatment for polymyositis includes:

Corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs

Physical therapy

Polymyositis is a rare connective tissue disease that causes inflammation in muscles. Its main characteristic is muscle weakness, usually in the hip and shoulder muscles. The cause isn't known. But doctors suspect that the immune system plays a role.

Polymyositis can occur in people with celiac disease, a disease of

the small intestine. But the frequency with which this occurs isn't known. A gluten-free diet clearly helps people with celiac disease. Gluten is a protein

found in wheat, rye, barley and possibly oats.

Many disorders are associated with celiac disease, including arthritis of the lower spine, hips, knees and shoulders. A gluten-free diet will improve arthritis associated with celiac disease. If a person with polymyositis has unexplained diarrhea, weight loss or persistent iron deficiency anemia, a doctor may suggest testing for celiac disease.

Related Information

Polymyositis

Celiac disease

Celiac disease: Nutrition and cookbook reviews

AN00572

June 4, 2003

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