Latent celiac disease in reproductive performance of women

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of positive serologic findings for celiac disease in Indian women with poor reproductive performance.

Design: Cross-sectional except that the women with intrauterine growth restriction were followed prospectively until delivery.

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a tertiary teaching hospital, New Delhi.

Patient(s): Eight hundred ninety-three women (104 women with idiopathic recurrent abortion, 104 women with unexplained stillbirth, 230 cases of unexplained infertility, 150 pregnant women with idiopathic intrauterine growth restriction, 305 control cases).

Intervention(s): None.

Main outcome measure(s): The presence of antigliadin IgA and IgG, anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA by ELISA, and IgA antiendomysium antibody by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy.

Result(s): The seroprevalence of transglutaminase IgA was 6.70% in the group with recurrent abortion, 5.70% in the group with stillbirth, 5.65% in the group with infertility, 9.33% in the group with intrauterine growth restriction, and 1.30% in the control group. Rates of previous preterm births, low-birth-weight infants, and cesarean section were higher in seropositive women compared with seronegative subjects.

Conclusion(s): Women having poor reproductive performance had subclinical celiac disease. The serology for celiac disease can be considered in idiopathic cases.