Abstract

FERREIRA, Silvia et al. Effect of gluten-free diet on interferon gamma (IFN-γ) levels in patients with celiac disease. Rev. parag. reumatol. [online]. 2021, vol.7, n.2, pp.55-59. ISSN 2413-4341.  https://doi.org/10.18004/rpr/2021.07.02.55.

Introduction: Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune enteropathy, with inflammation mainly at the small intestine triggered by exposure to dietary gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. Inflammatory cytokines are implicated in the pathogenesis of CD, among them a relevant cytokine is interferon gamma (IFN-γ). Levels of this cytokine are altered in CD and its expression has been linked to intestinal mucosal damage. The gluten-free diet (GFD) is the only effective treatment for CD.

Aim: To determine the effect of GFD on circulating levels of IFN-γ in adult Paraguayan patients with CD.

Methods: 40 patients with CD were included, of which 20 did not present GFD due to recent diagnosis and 20 presented a GFD. In addition, 15 apparently healthy controls were included.

Results: Patients with CD without GFD had increased serum IFN-γ levels compared to the control group. In contrast, patients with GFD did not show differences in cytokine levels when compared to the control group.

Conclusion: Serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ were found to be elevated in adult CD patients without a GFD compared to controls, which provides information about the inflammatory process present in this group of patients.

Keywords : celiac disease; diet; gluten-free; inflammation; cytokines; interferon gamma.

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