COULD GLUTEN SENSITIVITY CAUSE ITP (low platelets)

My daughter was diagnosed with ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia) 5 months ago, and somebody suggested changing her diet to see if her platelets would go up.

They are currently at 25000, We tried removing all milk, gluten, sugar, and processed foods, but I do not think we were strict enough with the gluten, as it is very difficult to feed a picky 2 1/2yr old as it is!

Do you think that a Gluten sensitivity could be responsible for her ITP? as we do not have a family history of ITP, and she has never received any vaccines, nor had much of a virus to cause it otherwise.

If you feel it could be the problem then we will definitly remove all gluten from her diet.

Thank up very much,
Sincerely,
Shona, mom of 1 in Canada

Comments for COULD GLUTEN SENSITIVITY CAUSE ITP (low platelets)

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Tough call...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Shona,

So, this is a really tough call because doctors will DEFINITELY tell you that the ITP has nothing to do with Gluten Sensitivity. And while there IS evidence that people with Celiac Disease have ITP more frequently than the normal population, because it's relatively rare, it's just simply not on the urgent list to be studied anytime soon, so it's not likely that 'the cure' or even a good answer is going to be given to you by your doctor.

However, there are answers and solutions out there, and there are a lot of researchers that have come to realize that EVERY autoimmune disease has a component of Leaky Gut Syndrome. Since gluten is one of the most common reasons for leaky gut syndrome, then gluten is the likely culprit for autoimmune diseases, or at least a major contributor to it. With each passing study, this is becoming more and more of a scientific fact rather than just the reports of a few people or a few studies. The research on this is very strong, and we should be taking heed that the epidemic of autoimmunity is almost certainly due to our high intake of gluten- and other lifestyle factors that contribute to leaky gut syndrome.

Especially in a child so young, I would suspect gluten to be the culprit, since gluten sensitivity has a genetic component. But the problem here is that to really find out if this is the case, you will have to be REALLY REALLY strict on the gluten for probably 6 months to a year to see if that is really the culprit- especially if she has no other health problems that you can 'judge' to see if those go away also (eczema, asthma, ADD, etc.).

She's SO young and there are SO many tests that you can really do to get down to the bottom of her problems that her doctor is just not likely to tell you about including an infection with the H Pylori Bacteria, which is related to ITP in many studies.

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Health Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Easy Immune Health.com

Could ITP be caused by Celiac?
by: Crystal

I am now 44 yrs old and asking this very same question. As an infant I was hospitolized 7 times in 7 months for Asthma. I had anemia as a child. I had austiomialidus at 10. At 11 I was diagnosed with ITP and maintained it until I was 21 or 22.

I lost 22 lbs with my first pregnancy. I had all my teeth pulled after my son was born at which time the ITP went away. I stayed at 123 lbs for 12 years and seemingly unable to get pregnant. when my son was 12 I gained 7 lbs and got pregnant. I was having trouble gaining weight again and my gut would hurt so bad I thought I would die. My daughter was born 6 weeks premature and quadrupled her weight in 3 months.

I remember her complaining about her stomach hurting about 20 minutes after starting breakfast in 1st grade. I thought it was her trying to get out of going to school. I started hearing about Celiac about 4 weeks ago and now I feel I may have an answer. I am trying a gluten free diet with the help of my dietitian step-daughter. She agrees with my suspicion.

What do you think?

Gluten and ITP and other things...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Crystal,

I think that 40 years of being an undiagnosed Celiac is long enough- don't you? You seem to have such 'Classic' symptoms of Celiac that it's amazing that doctors missed it for all of these years. Being unable to gain weight, serious dental problems, and Infertility from Gluten are absolutely textbook symptoms of gluten sensitivity.

It's really a shame that no one has cared to look for the underlying cause of your problems. But Gluten Sensitivity- and likely even full blown Celiac- is SOOO likely to be at least part of your problem that I would be EXTREMELY surprised if you didn't feel better when you get off of gluten.

But be careful, most people with celiac are at least mildly to completely lactose intolerant as well, so consider excluding dairy for at least a couple of weeks as well.

If you feel better off of gluten, be watchful of your kids as they are likely to have some degree of it as well- especially if they have ANY health problems whatsoever- even things like frequent cavities or infertility. Those ARE symptoms of Celiac that doctors simply just don't pick up on- as you well know.

Good luck,

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System

Gluten Sensitivity
by: Anonymous

Yes, as a person who has ITP myself I am traveling down that path. Here is what I suggest you do: read the book called The Gluten Effect, it breaks it down real easily. Then I would contact HelthNOW medical clinic (they work with people from all over the US so I am sure they would talk to someone from Canada). I am working with them now and will be monitoring the results but after a lot of research I would be dang surprised if it wasn't gluten!

desperate mom with 5 yr old daughter
by: vanessa

Hello my daughter has had various health problems and I am looking for a new pediatrician. I have always felt that there was somthing wrong with her.... these are the diffrent health conditions my daughter has had:

When she was born she was diagnosed as " lactose intolerant" and was given an uper GI

She went into the urgent care more than 10 times and each time was diagnosed with some time of u pper respitory infection.

Finally the allergy doctor said her chronic cough was from asthma. She tested positve for 19 out of 20 allergens on the allergy test

She is very slow at gaining weight her hair has hardly grown a lot her whole life, has very brittle nails that split.

Almost a yr ago she was hospitalized for 4 days with ITP and was treated.

She has excemma

Now I've noticed that she says "she is so full" after eating about 7 out of 10 times .... and always complains her stomach hurts when its bed time. Not a severe pain she ajust bothersome

( she is also always very thirsty and always asks for only water)

I'm just looking for answers

Desperate mother

Gluten Sensitivity
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Desperate,

Please read the thread again. The thread is about GLUTEN SENSITIVITY and ITP. It sounds very much like your daughter might have undiagnosed Celiac Disease or just plain Gluten Sensitivity.

Please read the pages on Gluten Sensitivity THOROUGHLY and completely because you may be shocked that your doctors never even suspected it- which is typical. But if you rely on doctors to diagnose this and tell you to go off of gluten, you'll be disappointed. Unless your daughter is a full-blown Celiac it's unlikely that you'll get any help from your doctors.

And another question is that if she tested allergic to a whole bunch of foods, it's pretty likely that one of those is wheat. Did you get her off of wheat? And are you giving her sugar or any other processed foods? Or is she on a nutrient dense 100% whole food diet that only included real whole unprocessed foods?

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System
Side Effects

PS: If you found this website helpful, please consider using the
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ITP cure
by: Suresh shah

My son had ITP at the age of 5 years.We found that allopathic medicines did not work and my son gained wait by medicines to increase blood counts.We treated him with aurvedic medicine and today he is alright.

If you are interested please ask me and I would tell you remedy which is harmless.

Suresh Shah

ITP
by: Jerry

OK, I'm now 54 years old. I was diagnosed with ITP when I was 51. My platelet count at that time was below 500. Not 50,000, below 500. Over time my platelet count has managed to reach and maintain a count of 60,000 - 70,000 at its best. My Prednizone intake has been reduced to 5mg. every other day for the last couple of years at least. My doctor is relatively happy with that count and tells me it may never be any better than that but that count keeps me out of immediate danger of bleeding out.

Now I find out that I have stage I/II avascular necrosis in my right hip. The ortho attributes this to the Prednizone. Dandy. (lol)

I'm trying to figure out my options here. I need the prednizone but at the same time the same drug that is keeping my platelet count above 500 is also causing me bone damage.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Gluten Free has saved us!
by: Bridget Bittman

My son Lucas has had an unknown immune deficienty since birth. His birth weight was less then his 4 siblings and was hospitalized the 1st time and 2 with failure to thrive. This would begin an extensive round of testing and stays in hospitals.

His spleen was always enlarged and his glands were always over active. At 4, his tonsils and adenoids were removed. Now, he could breath. The grew back and had to be removed again. His ears were constantly infected. At 8 years, his plates bottomed out to 3 for the first time. No answers why. Within 5 months, he was treated with IVIG every 5 days and his platelets were responding less and less. Rituximab was given which bought 8 - 19 months time.

Independant, laboratory testing was done to find he had many serious food allergies never detected within the North American medical system. Gluten, wheat and dairy where huge culprits. Eliminating them from his diet boosted his platelets to the point we didn't need IVIG at all.

Eliminating dairy, dyes and sugar has cleared his ears and lungs from infection and helped with angry, defiant behaviour. Another side effect of this diet, his psoriasis went away.

ITP, Gluten and ...autism?
by: Crystal

You already answered my comment but wanted to let you know that since I wrote you last my premature daughter has now been diagnosed with Asperger's. The doctor wants tp check for Fragile X now. Also wanted to point out that my Mom put me on whole RAW milk as a baby who would not gain weight on Pet milk at the recommendation of the doctor. I had an upper and lower GI as an early teen due to gut pain. I am sensetive to dairy and eggs at what seems random times or maybe by amount.Should not put eggs and cheese together as that is the worst.

Yes, gluten and autism
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Gluten and autism are DEFINITELY correlated! I would encourage you to go to the Autism Research Institute, also called 'Defeat Autism Now' and they discuss the relationship to Autism/Asperger's to Gluten and Dairy protein sensitivities extensively.

Putting these kids on a gluten and casein free diet is one of the very first things that one should at least try in order to see if it improves symptoms. This is not to say that ALL kids with autism respond to a gluten free diet, however, there are a significant number that do, so it's worth giving it a try. Other than your child WANTING to eat crappy low nutrition foods like bread and pasta, there is no downside to eliminating low nutrition foods, such as most foods that contain gluten.

Kerri Knox RN

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System
Side Effects

ITP vanished after going gluten free
by: Sam Chapman

I developed what I understand now to be petechiae, tiny pinprick bruises, on my calves and shins around 8 years ago. Around the same time it started taking an unusually long time for shaving nicks to stop bleeding. Last year after a multitude of seemingly unrelated symptoms I read about gluten intolerance. All of my symptoms fit so I went gluten free. The ITP and 30 other symptoms/conditions vanished or minimized significantly.

Aiuyervidic Cure for ITP
by: Anonymous

Hi Suresh, can you please tell me how Ayurvedic medicine helped cure your five year old son from ITP? My son is five and a half and also has ITP. Any information you provide would be very helpful.

Thank you,
Manju

Gluten dairy Itp
by: Anonymous

My 2 year old had platelets of 1-11 recently. She had a daory allergy from birth but we were slowly introducing dairy over christmas.. We went way over oard with ice cream and cows milk..

Two weeks later she was hospitalised.. 1 week of strict dairy and gluten free food and she had a count of 75!!! Sticking to it as the IVIG and steroids wouldnt raise her platelets above 7.. ANA test was inconclusive so retesting in a few weeks.. Do whatever it takes I say.. Prednisole was horrible for her. Im glad we researched and found something that has a positive affect

Gluten Sensitivity
by: Bridget

We just lost our 19 year old son to an unlabelled immune disorder with ITP being one of the many highlights. He was tested for Celiac and while his blood panel came back high, the biopsy was negative. That the blood panel was high was a very strong indicator for gluten sensitivity and it was completely ignored by the medical system.

NOTE: Medical doctors are not trained in food sensitivities and allergies.

The medications and creams used to temporarily alleviate the symptoms are all just a temporary fix. Most standard allergy testing is useless. Go to a good natural path and follow instruction and the sooner the better!!

I have seen some really ugly deaths related to auto immune disorders ITP is one which will just continue to become more serious - and the standard medical treatments used to fix them - some resulting in death such as in my sons case.

All the highly processed, genetically modified , chemical laiden, gluten and BHT infested garbage we consume is highly toxic and it is manifesting itself in countless immune disorders. GO NATURAL WITH YOUR FOOD. IF IT FOMES IN A BOX OR CAN, DON'T EAT IT. OUR GRAINS AND CORNS HAVE BEEN GENETICALLY ALTERED AND DOUSED IN POISONOUS PESTICIDES AND GROWTH FACTORS.

DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN NOW. GET THE PALEO DIET FOR AUTO IMMUNE DISORDERS. Save countless future grief! We did all we could but it was too little too late!

ITP & Gluten
by: Tracey

I was diagnosed with ITP at 50, I am 55 now. It has been a roller coaster ride of different treatments. My numbers have been 0 a couple times and always stay below 50,000.

I have had Immunoglobulin Infusion, Rituximab Infusions, IV prednisone, 100 mg danazol and dexamethasone. Nothing worked for long.
I just had my 2nd Nplate injection, and my count is 41,000. I am hopeful this will work. I am just now researching gluten intolerance because I have had issues with reflux for years.

I am encouraged from the comments and anxious to find out more about the connection of ITP & Gluten.

Sensitivities & ITP
by: Bridget

My son had a multi-faceted immune disorder, diagnosed with failure to thrive at 2. ITP came along later, close to 8. We had him tested for food allergies/ sensitivity by a Dr. Bruce Hoffman in Calgary, a GP/Natural Path with precise laboratory testing from specialized labs in Dallas, TX, and Charlotte, NC. If interested, I can get the test names.. The result was a very specific list of exactly which foods he was allergic to and to what extent. A general rule of thumb is avoid all gluten. Gluten free baking and breads aren't particularly helpful and should be used in moderation. Buy organic when possible. Avoid packaged foods and learn what it takes to reverse leaky gut syndrome. Get a good natural path and understand your regular GP and specialists will like not agree with any of this. That's okay. It isn't a part of their medical training and there is not enough research being done on it. They know something causes your own immune system to turn against you. In my son's case, it caused his T-cells to attack the platelets and eventually his hemoglobin. His lymph nodes were always overactive and his spleen often enlarged.

Take the diet seriously as a permanent change of lifestyle. Drugs and treatments are only a bandaid. A temporary fix which don't address the root problem. In my son's case, he always had to go to more and more extreme drugs and treatments over the years. He died at 19. If we, as a family, would have taken his food issues more seriously and if had been given more full support in this area from the medical world, perhaps he'd still be with us because he had several good years when he did adhere to his restrictions and take supplements to heal his " leaky gut". Bone broth soups and fermented foods (sour kraut) are a huge benefit.

How bout you be the boss of your 2 1/ 2 year old and make some lifesaving decisions. It's not easy but it really S worth every ounce of effort.

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