Healthy Living

The Real Risk: How Celiac Disease May Trigger Lymphoma in Some Patients

The relationship between RCD and white blood cells

The specific type of RCD, known as RCD II, causes the white blood cells that are found on the intestinal walls to divide at a rapid rate. In half of the RCD II patients, these white blood cells, called lymphocytes, develop into EATL.

This process, according to the study, is set off by the consumption of gluten because it causes the T cells to have a profound inflammatory reaction. The T cells pick up on the presence of gluten and thus, form cytokines. These substances then stimulate the body’s other immune cells which leads to even more inflammation and pain that is typical for those suffering from celiac, and in rare cases, cancer will develop.