Background: Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic  autoimmune disorder caused by an inflammatory T-cell response to the storage proteins in wheat (gliadin), rye (secalin), and barley (hordein), which are collectively called “gluten” and characterized by the presence of typical autoantibodies and histological alterations of the small bowel mucosa. Genetic, immunological, and environmental factors are necessary for the expression of the disease. Ingestion of gluten by genetically predisposed people notably HLA-DQ2 and/or HLA -DQ8 precipitates an uncontrolled T-cell-driven inflammatory response that leads to disruption of the structural and functional integrity of the small bowel mucosa.  The prevalence of celiac disease autoimmune disease is not known in Ethiopian population.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of celiac disease in women undergoing antenatal care in selected Ethiopian health institutes.

Method: Serum samples from 1942 Ethiopian women undergoing antenatal care were evaluated for celiac disease serological markers; IgA and IgG-tissue transglutaminase antibody (t-TGA), using a radio immune binding assay using Micro beta rpm counter was performed in Clinical Research Center, Malmo, Sweden. SPSS version 23 were used for statistical analysis.

Results: Serum from1942 female populations with median age of 25 ± 5.206 years old were included in the study. At the time of analysis, undiagnosed celiac autoimmune disease was observed in 5 (0.3%) of the 1942 study women population as screened by IgG-tTG antibody. Two (0.2%) of them was positive for both IgA-tTG and IgG-tTG. The mean of anti-IgA- tTG and anti-IgG-tTG value was 0.182 U/ml and 0,894 U/ml, respectively.

Conclusion: The seroprevalence of celiac disease  autoimmune disease in Ethiopian female population is 0.3% (3 in 1000). Celiac autoimmune disease are underdiagnosed in Ethiopian population.

Key words: Autoimmune disease, Celiac disease, Women