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Researchers found that adults with untreated celiac disease have significantly higher levels of inflammatory proteins in their blood — and those levels track closely with gut damage severity. After a year on a gluten-free diet, most proteins dropped, but nine remained elevated, suggesting some patients may still have lingering inflammation even while on treatment.
A new study published in Gastroenterology suggests that a blood-based protein panel could offer a noninvasive window into gut damage in celiac disease (CeD). Researchers from the University of Oslo analyzed serum samples from 161 adults with untreated, biopsy-confirmed CeD and 40 healthy controls, measuring 92 inflammatory proteins using a targeted proteomics platform. Of those, 24 were elevated in untreated CeD patients — and several tracked closely with both celiac antibody levels and the severity of intestinal damage on biopsy.
After a median of 12.4 months on a gluten-free diet, most inflammatory protein levels fell — but nine remained significantly elevated, pointing to possible persistent low-grade inflammation even in treated patients.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Celiac disease diagnosis currently relies on invasive biopsies. A validated blood-based inflammatory signature could improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce the need for repeat endoscopies, and help clinicians identify patients who aren't fully responding to dietary treatment.
