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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 They discovered that people with IBD were much more likely to develop a variety of nerve conditions compared to people in other groups.
The exact link between bowel and nerve disorders remains unclear.
"This should be analyzed carefully, because in many patients, I could diagnose other medical conditions which could have at least contributed to the development of nerve damage, like diabetes, glucose intolerance, vitamin deficiencies, hypothyroidism," Gondim said. But, "in many patients, we have no explanation (other than IBD), which may suggest that there is an undiagnosed nutritional deficiency or ongoing immune-mediated nerve damage."
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It's not known yet, Gondim said, how all these factors may interact to affect the course of the IBD.
Another expert called the research "an important study." Dr. Dawn Eliashiv, director of neurophysiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, said the finding "exemplified the fact that when we are dealing with patients, we cannot overlook that GI disorders affect many systems."
"Patients with IBD may have vitamin B12 deficiency or vitamin E deficiency," Eliashiv noted, "which may cause numbness, instability of gait or balance problems."
Hopefully, the study will raise awareness among physicians about the possibility of neurological complications occurring alongside IBD, she said.
Eliashiv and Gondim agreed on their advice to those with IBD: Anyone with the condition who also has numbness or pain in the hands or feet should seek medical attention. If they have balance problems or weakness, they also need to consult their doctor.
The study was supported by grants from the Federal University of Ceara and the Brazilian Ministry of Health.
More information
To learn more about IBD, visit the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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