Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study is to explore the association between celiac disease and menstrual cycle, gestation and puerperal disorders.MethodsThe association between celiac disease and menstrual cycle, gestation and puerperal disorders in a sample of 62 childbearing age women (15-49 age) was assessed within an age and town of residence matched case-control study conducted in 2008. Main outcome measures were the presence of one or more disorders in menstrual cycle and the presence of one or more complication during pregnancy.Results62 celiac women (median age: 31.5, range: 17-49) and 186 healthy control (median age: 32.5, range: 15-49) were interviewed. A higher percentage of menstrual cycle disorders has been observed in celiac women. 19.4% frequency of amenorrhea was reported among celiac women versus 2.2% among healthy controls (OR = 33, 95% CI = 7.17-151.8;, p = 0.000). An association has been observed between celiac disease and oligomenorrhea, hypomenorrhea, dysmenorrhea and metrorrhagia (p < 0.05). The likelihood of having at least one complication during pregnancy has been estimated to be at least four times higher in celiac women than in healthy women (OR = 4.1, 95% CI = 2-8.6, p = 0.000). A significant correlation has emerged for celiac disease and threatened abortion, gestational hypertension, placenta abruption, severe anaemia, uterine hyperkinesia, intrauterine growth restriction (p < 0.001). A shorter gestation has on average been observed in celiac women together with a lower birth weight of celiac women babies (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe occurrence of a significant correlation between celiac disease and reproductive disorders could suggest to consider celiac disease diagnostic procedures (serological screening) in women affected by these disorders.
Highlights
The aim of this study is to explore the association between celiac disease and menstrual cycle, gestation and puerperal disorders
The aim of the present study is to explore the association between celiac disease and menstrual cycle, gestation and puerperal disorders in childbearing-age women resident in Puglia (Southern Italy, 4 million of inhabitants)
Three age-matched and town of residence-matched controls were interviewed for each celiac woman: a total number of 186 interviews were collected with a replacement rate of about 15%
Summary
The aim of this study is to explore the association between celiac disease and menstrual cycle, gestation and puerperal disorders. Celiac Disease (CD), known as celiac sprue or gluten enteropathy, is a permanent intolerance to gluten, a protein complex contained in wheat, barley and rye, characterized by a wide clinical variability. A diet completely free of the above cereals results in the total resolution of the clinical picture as well as in complete healing of jejunal mucosa histological lesions [1]. Celiac disease occurs in adults and children with an incidence approaching 1% of population in Western countries [2]. In a previous multi-centric study carried out by Catassi et al on more than 17,000 students (age range: 6-15) the prevalence of celiac disease was observed to be of one case in 184 students with an elevated incidence of atypical forms [9]
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