Pregnancy outcome of patients with celiac disease

Celiac disease, i.e. permanent intolerance to gluten, has an autoimmune mechanism. Controversy exists in the literature regarding the association between celiac and infertility, abortions, intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) and stillbirths. When properly managed, celiac disease might have little effect on pregnancy and birth outcomes. However, as a commonly undiagnosed disease, fertility, pregnancy, and birth might all be negatively affected by it when it is unrecognized and untreated. When celiac disease is untreated, women may be subfertile, or suffer infertility. If a woman manages to become pregnant without treating celiac disease, there are higher rates of IUGR, and low birthweight (LBW) of her offspring. Therefore, celiac disease should be considered among idiopathic infertility repeat spontaneous abortion, and immediately and strictly treated in order to correct future risks. Control of a gluten-free diet is important in terms of healthy reproduction. Further, studies should focus on screening for celiac disease among patients presenting with IUGR of an unknown etiology.