Open AccessCOVID‐19 and celiac disease: A pathogenetic hypothesis for a celiac outbreak
Author(s) -
Trovato Chiara Maria,
Montuori Monica,
Pietropaoli Nicoletta,
Oliva Salvatore
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1742-1241
pISSN - 1368-5031
DOI - 10.1111/ijcp.14452
Subject(s) - medicine , culprit , outbreak , disease , intestinal permeability , cytokine storm , covid-19 , gluten , immunology , intestinal mucosa , cytokine , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , myocardial infarction
Background A growing body of evidence supports the intestinal trophism of SARS‐CoV‐2, with ciliated cells and intestinal enterocytes being target cells because of the high expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2. Indeed, COVID‐19 promotes a “cytokine storm” in the intestinal mucosa: the resulting epithelial damage leads to increased barrier permeability, allowing the passage of gliadin in the intestinal lamina. Methods Based on current literature, we hypothesize the role of COVID‐19 as a potential trigger factor for celiac disease in predisposed patients. Conclusions Genetically predisposed patients could be more likely to develop celiac disease following SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, making COVID‐19 a candidate culprit for a potential outbreak of celiac disease in the forthcoming future.