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Schizophrenic symptoms and SPECT abnormalities in a coeliac patient: regression after a gluten‐free diet
Author(s) -
DE SANTIS A.,
ADDOLORATO G.,
ROMITO A.,
CAPUTO S.,
GIORDANO A.,
GAMBASSI G.,
TARANTO C.,
MANNA R.,
GASBARRINI G.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.625
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1365-2796
pISSN - 0954-6820
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2796.1997.00200.x
Subject(s) - medicine , coeliac disease , gluten free , gluten , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , regression , intestinal malabsorption , gastroenterology , psychiatry , pathology , disease , psychotherapist , psychology
De Santis A, Addolorato G, Romito A, Caputo S, Giordano A, Gambassi G, Taranto C, Manna R, Gasbarrini G (Catholic University, Rome, Italy). Schizophrenic symptoms and SPECT abnormalities in a coeliac patient: regression after a gluten‐free diet (Case Report). J Intern Med 1997; 242 : 421–23. A 33‐year‐old patient, with pre‐existing diagnosis of ‘schizophrenic’ disorder, came to our observation for severe diarrhoea and weight loss. Use of single photon emission computed tomography, ( 99m Tc)HMPAO SPECT, demonstrated hypoperfusion of the left frontal brain area, without evidence of structural cerebral abnormalities. Jejunal biopsy showed villous atrophy. Antiendomysial antibodies were present. A gluten‐free diet was started, resulting in a disappearence of psychiatric symptoms, and normalization of histological duodenal findings and of ( 99m Tc)HMPAO SPECT pattern. This is the first case in which, in an undiagnosed and untreated coeliac patient with psychiatric manifestations, the ( 99m Tc)HMPAO SPECT demonstrated a dysfunction of frontal cortex disappearing after a gluten‐free diet.