Prevalence of Celiac Disease and its Effects on Pregnancy

One of the coeliac disease(CD) symptoms is infertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Furthermore, we are not cognizant of any CD reports in pregnancy in Iran. Therefore, this study aims to prospectively estimate the prevalence of undiagnosed CD in a population of pregnant women as well as its complications in pregnancy. 796 pregnant women with mean age of 26 years(SD= 26) and mean pregnancy duration of 5.4 months participated in this descriptive study from 2007 to 2008. Total IgA test and antitissue transglutaminase(tTGA) antibodies were measured. Those with positive TGA underwent histological biopsy specimens according to modified Marsh classification. A positive CD serology for tTGA was obderved in 17(2.1%) out of 796 pregnant women. Out of the 17 seropositive patients, 10 had abnormal histology compatible with CD(Marsh I-IIIc) symptoms. Two pregnant women had already experienced miscarriage. Moreover, 3 patients had born low birth weight babies. In this study, there was no significant relationship between CD and high incidence of adverse outcomes. Overall, 1 out of 66 pregnant women(1.5% rate of prevalence) suffered from CD. Celiac disease shows different severity in different individuals. In other words, not every celiac patient is at high risk for its complications. This may propose that gluten free diet could be avoided in the patients who have a normal pregnancy.