title: Levels of antibodies against tissue transglutaminase during pregnancy are associated with reduced fetal weight and birth weight.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Celiac disease in pregnant women has been associated with poor growth of the fetus, but little is known about how the level of celiac disease affects fetal growth or birth outcomes. We assessed the associations between levels of antibodies against tissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG, a marker of celiac disease) and fetal growth and birth outcomes for pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a population-based prospective birth cohort study of 7046 pregnant women. Serum samples were collected during the second trimester of pregnancy and analyzed for levels of anti-tTG. Based on these levels, the women were categorized into 3 groups: negative anti-tTG (≤0.79 U/mL; n = 6702), intermediate anti-tTG (0.8 to ≤6 U/mL; n = 308), or positive anti-tTG (>6 U/mL; n = 36). Data on fetal growth and birth outcomes were collected from ultrasound measurements and medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fetuses of women in the positive anti-tTG group weighed 16 g less than those of women in the negative anti-tTG group (95% confidence interval [CI], -32 to -1 g) during the second trimester and weighed 74 g less (95% CI, -140 to -8 g) during the third trimester. Newborns of women in the intermediate and positive anti-tTG groups weighed 53 g (95% CI, -106 to -1 g) and 159 g (95% CI, -316 to -1 g) less at birth, respectively, than those of women in the negative anti-tTG group. The reduction in birth weight in offspring of mothers in the intermediate anti-tTG group was 2-fold greater among mothers who carried HLA-DQ2 or -DQ8 than among those without HLA-DQ2 or -DQ8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levels of anti-tTG in pregnant women are inversely associated with fetal growth. Growth was reduced to the greatest extent in fetuses of women with the highest levels of anti-tTG (>6 U/mL). Birth weight was also reduced in women with intermediate levels of anti-tTG (0.8 to ≤6 U/mL) and further reduced in those carrying HLA-DQ2 and -DQ8.
authors: Generation R Study Group, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Jessica C
authors: JC
authors: Kiefte-de Jong
authors: Vincent W V
authors: VW
authors: Jaddoe
authors: André G
authors: AG
authors: Uitterlinden
authors: Eric A P
authors: EA
authors: Steegers
authors: Sten P
authors: SP
authors: Willemsen
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: Hofman
authors: Herbert
authors: H
authors: Hooijkaas
authors: Henriette A
authors: HA
authors: Moll
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000276:immunology; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000276:immunology; D020567:Fetal Weight / Q000276:immunology; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; C053186:HLA-DQ2 antigen; D011503:Transglutaminases