Maternal celiac disease and the risk for long-term infectious morbidity of the offspring

Problem: Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, patients with celiac have increased risk for infections, and offspring of celiac mothers have increased morbidity. The aim of the study was to assess long-term infectious morbidity among offspring of pregnant women with celiac disease. Method of Study: A population-based cohort study was conducted, including all singleton deliveries between the years 1991–2014 at a tertiary medical center. The offsprings were subdivided into two groups: offsprings of mothers with and without celiac disease. Data on demographics, maternal, perinatal, and long-term hospitalizations for infectious morbidity were compared between the two groups. Results: During the study period there were 210 (0.09%) deliveries of mothers with celiac, and they were compared to 242170 (99.91%) deliveries of non-celiac mothers. Cumulative infectious morbidity was significantly higher in offspring of mothers with celiac compared to offspring of mothers without celiac (Kaplan-Meier, log-rank p =.004). Specifically, among the offspring of mothers with celiac significantly higher rates of bacteremia was noted (1.0% vs. 0.1%; p =.001), and infections of the central nervous system (1% vs. 0.2%; p =.028). In the Cox multivariable model which accounted for confounding variables, being born to mothers with celiac disease was associated with significantly increased risk for long-term infectious morbidity of the offspring (adjusted HR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.165–2.357, p =.005). Conclusions: Maternal celiac disease is an independent risk factor for long-term infectious morbidity for the offspring.