Prevalence of Celiac Disease in Unexplained Infertility in Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

 Background: The relationship between subfertiltiy and celiac disease has been well described and may be the only presenting feature of celiac disease. Therefore, this study was designed to show the prevalence of celiac disease in unexplained infertility among Iranian patients in Tehran, Iran.

 Methods: This case-control study includes 125 patients with primary unexplained infertility and 125 fertile women as controls who referred to Shariati Hospital, affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences Infertility Clinic. The total serum IgA and IgA anti-TTG were measured. In the case of positive TTG, a duodenal biopsy was performed to confirm the diagnosis.

 

Results: Four patients (3%) with unexplained infertility had positive TTG and in three (2.4%), biopsy of small intestine was compatible with celiac disease. None of the women in the control group had positive TTG.

 

 Conclusion: A few studies suggest that celiac serologic tests should be considered for infertile patients. But the absence of a significant statistical difference in the incidence of celiac disease between subject and control groups in the present study suggests a need for further studies with large sample size to address the issue.