A parasite hookworm could hold the key to liberating people from the symptoms of coeliac disease, Queensland researchers have said.
Hookworm, a parasite common in the third world, has been artificially injected into people with the disease as part of a joint clinical trial at Brisbane’s Prince Charles Hospital and James Cook University.
Gastroenterologist Dr John Croese said the results from initial tests had been positive with more scheduled for early next year.
He said throughout the project patients with coeliac disease that had been infected had become “quite tolerant” of gluten.
“It’s going to liberate people with coeliac disease,” he said.
“Whether or not it’s going to completely cure the condition remains to be seen.
Coeliac disease is an immune disease caused by gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, barley and oats.
When people with coeliac disease eat gluten an inappropriate immune reaction causes inflammation and damage to the small bowel.
Untreated, coeliac disease can cause a range of symptoms and health problems.
It affects people of all ages both male and female.
Dr Croese said the outcome in patients had been remarkable.
“Previously these people would have run a mile rather than eat a straw of spaghetti and by the end of the study they were eating 75 straws of spaghetti a day and they were feeling better for it,” he said.
He said they were not yet sure what was causing the reaction.
“We have a molecule under investigation. There are probably many different components of hookworm secretion that manipulate the immune system,” he said.
“It’s a big puzzle that needs to be sorted out.
“The next generation of drugs for treating immune diseased is likely to lie in what parasites secrete.”
Dr Croese said he hoped they would be able to move on to randomised clinical trials next year.
“That’s where we have suitable checks and balances and enough people to get a robust outcome and to see if this really will make a difference,” he said.