title: Looking for celiac disease in Italian women with endometriosis: a case control study.
abstract: In the last years, a potential link between endometriosis and celiac disease has been hypothesized since these disorders share some similarities, specifically concerning a potential role of oxidative stress, inflammation, and immunological dysfunctions. We investigated the prevalence of celiac disease among Italian women with endometriosis with respect to general population. Consecutive women with a laparoscopic and histological confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis were enrolled; female nurses of our institution, without a known history of endometriosis, were enrolled as controls. IgA endomysial and tissue transglutaminase antibodies measurement and serum total IgA dosage were performed in both groups. An upper digestive endoscopy with an intestinal biopsy was performed in case of antibodies positivity. Presence of infertility, miscarriage, coexistence of other autoimmune diseases, and family history of autoimmune diseases was also investigated in all subjects. Celiac disease was diagnosed in 5 of 223 women with endometriosis and in 2 of 246 controls (2.2% versus 0.8%; P = 0.265). Patients with endometriosis showed a largely higher rate of infertility compared to control group (27.4% versus 2.4%; P < 0.001). Our results confirm that also in Italian population an increased prevalence of celiac disease among patients with endometriosis is found, although this trend does not reach the statistical significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy ; Integrated Complex Columbus-Gemelli Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Via Giuseppe Moscati 31, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3614-7314
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Catholic University of Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ferruccio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Onofrio
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9916-9372
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Covino
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Catholic University of Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University of Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Guglielmo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palombini
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoliquido
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8819-3684
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montalto
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies