Immunology of pregnancy and reproductive health in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Update from the 11th International Conference on Reproduction, Pregnancy and Rheumatic Diseases.

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) can affect women and men during fertile age, therefore reproductive health is a priority issue in rheumatology. Many topics need to be considered during preconception counselling: fertility, the impact of disease-related factors on pregnancy outcomes, the influence of pregnancy on disease activity, the compatibility of medications with pregnancy and breastfeeding. Risk stratification and individualized treatment approach elaborated by a multidisciplinary team minimize the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO). Research has been focused on identifying biomarkers that can be predictive of APO. Specifically, preeclampsia and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy tend to develop more frequently in women with ARD. Placental insufficiency can lead to intrauterine growth restriction and small-for-gestational age newborns. Such APO have been shown to be associated with maternal disease activity in different ARD. Therefore, a key message to be addressed to the woman wishing for a pregnancy and to her family is that treatment with compatible drugs is the best way to ensure maternal and fetal wellbeing. An increasing number of medications have entered the management of ARD, but data about their use in pregnancy and lactation are scarce. More information is needed for most biologic drugs and their biosimilars, and for the so-called small molecules, while there is sufficient evidence to recommend the use of TNF inhibitors if needed for keeping maternal disease under control. Other issues related to the reproductive journey have emerged as "unmet needs", such as sexual dysfunction, contraception, medically assisted reproduction techniques, long-term outcome of children, and they will be addressed in this review paper. Collaborative research has been instrumental to reach current knowledge and the future will bring novel insights thanks to pregnancy registries and prospective studies that have been established in several Countries and to their joint efforts in merging data.

Managing COVID-19 in pregnant women

Pregnant women are no more likely to contract coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) than the background population and two-thirds of those testing positive are asymptomatic [1, 2]. Risk factors for severe infection reflect those outside pregnancy and include being unvaccinated, aged >35 years, having a body mass index >25 kg·m−2, having a medical comorbidity, being in the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnicity (BAME) population, and socioeconomic deprivation [1]. Pregnant women who develop moderate/severe disease are more likely to require hospitalisation and critical care admission, particularly in the third trimester [1]. Principles of management of COVID-19 in the general population apply in pregnancy with few exceptions. Clinical inertia can lead to preventable morbidity and mortality. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and should be recommended at any stage of pregnancy.https://bit.ly/3Rj8nWr

Managing COVID-19 in pregnant women.

Principles of management of COVID-19 in the general population apply in pregnancy with few exceptions. Clinical inertia can lead to preventable morbidity and mortality. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and should be recommended at any stage of pregnancy. https://bit.ly/3Rj8nWr.

Starvation ketosis in a pregnant woman with COVID-19: a case report.

Summary: COVID-19 is associated with severe disease in pregnancy. Complications of the disease, or simultaneous diagnoses, may be missed if clinicians do not retain a large differential diagnosis when assessing such women. Starvation ketoacidosis is one such diagnosis which may complicate the disease and should not be missed. A 37-year-old woman, 33 weeks' gestation presented with breathlessness. Clinical history, examination and investigations supported a diagnosis of starvation ketosis of pregnancy complicating COVID-19 pneumonitis. Prompt correction of the metabolic disturbance resulted in resolution, and preterm delivery was avoided at this time. Early recognition and prompt management of starvation ketosis of pregnancy in women with COVID-19 are important in reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Preterm delivery may be avoided with prompt resolution of the metabolic disturbance. Clinicians should keep a wide differential diagnosis when assessing women with breathlessness. A multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach is required to facilitate optimal care. Learning points: Clinicians should maintain a wide differential when assessing women who are unwell with COVID-19 in pregnancy. Complications such as starvation ketoacidosis are rare but life-threatening. An awareness of such complications facilitates early identification of the condition, and involvement of appropriate specialists who can initiate optimal and timely management. In the context of pregnancy, where ketoacidosis poses a threat to the mother or baby, prompt management and resolution may avoid preterm delivery. Conditions that may increase the risk of developing starvation ketoacidosis include pregnancy, medication use such as corticosteroids or tocolytic therapies, previous gastric surgery, intercurrent illness and pregnancy-related conditions that might contribute towards a degree of chronic starvation. Multidisciplinary input supports the delivery of best practice and care for the patients.

COVID-19 in pregnancy.

Pregnant women with COVID-19 are less likely to be symptomatic than non-pregnant counterparts. Risk factors for severe disease include being overweight or obese, greater than 35 years old, and having pre-existing comorbidities. Those who develop severe disease have increased rates of admission to an intensive care unit, requiring invasive ventilation and pre-term birth.Pregnant and breastfeeding women with COVID-19 should be investigated as of outside pregnancy and should receive proven therapies (such as corticosteroids and tocilizumab) on a risk/benefit basis. Admitted women should receive multidisciplinary care with input from senior decision makers and early escalation where required. There are no safety concerns -surrounding the COVID-19 vaccination and fertility or pregnancy, and so it should be offered to women based on their age and clinical risk group, in line with non-pregnant women.