IgA-class transglutaminase antibodies

You can use transglutaminase antibodies to determine if you have a predisposition to a specific autoimmune reaction in which your body turns against its own cells.

Antibodies against transglutaminase are directed against certain structures inside muscle cells. They occur, among other things, in coeliac disease, an autoimmune disease in which inflammation of the intestinal mucosa occurs after eating foods containing gluten.

Women with transglutaminase antibodies have a greatly increased risk of reduced fertility, miscarriages and premature births. If you have coeliac disease, this risk can be reduced with a gluten-free diet after consulting your gastroenterologist.

The causes for the limited fertility and the increased risk of miscarriages in connection with coeliac disease have not yet been conclusively clarified scientifically. On the one hand, it is suspected that untreated coeliac disease causes a nutrient deficiency due to an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the small intestine. This can lead to an undersupply of vitamins and minerals that play an important role in the desire to have children – e.g. folic acid, iron, vitamins B6 and B12, selenium and zinc. But antibodies, which are elevated in coeliac disease, are also thought to play an influencing role in that they can adversely affect placental function.

Important: A gluten-free diet has no advantages for healthy pregnant women!

This article has been verified by a medical professional