ABSTRACT
We performed a cross-sessional study of all systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pregnancies during a 4-year period (2006-2009) to describe the clinical features, maternal and foetal outcomes in our centre. There were 48 pregnancies in 44 women with SLE. Our patients have a mean age of 30.0 years (SD 6.36) and a mean disease duration of 40.67 months (SD 48.23). Our patients have complicated pregnancies: 32.7% have SLE flares, 17.3% have preeclampsia and 48.9% needed caesarean sections. There were 20.0% foetal losses and 17.8% preterm deliveries in our patients. SLE flares contributed to 60.0% of foetal losses in our patients. Lupus pregnancies in our centre generally have a good maternal and foetal outcome comparable to developed countries in Asia. The low incidence of APS, the high usage of hydroxychloroquine and the high SLE remission rate in our patients prior to conceptions contributed to the good outcome.
Subject(s)
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/epidemiology , Pregnancy Complications/epidemiology , Adult , Antirheumatic Agents/therapeutic use , Asia/epidemiology , Cesarean Section/statistics & numerical data , Cross-Sectional Studies , Disease Progression , Female , Humans , Hydroxychloroquine/therapeutic use , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/drug therapy , Malaysia/epidemiology , Obstetric Labor, Premature/epidemiology , Pre-Eclampsia/drug therapy , Pre-Eclampsia/epidemiology , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/drug therapy , Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
We performed a retrospective study of all systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pregnancies during a two-year period (2006-2007) to describe the clinical features, maternal and foetal outcomes in our centre. There were 17 pregnancies in 16 women with SLE. Our patients have a mean age of 28.31 years (SD 5.24) and a mean disease duration of 38.62 months (SD 38.03). Our patients have complicated pregnancies: 35.3% have SLE flares, 21.1% have preeclampsia and 47.4% needed caesarean sections. There were 15.8% foetal losses and 12.5% preterm deliveries in our patients. All the foetal losses occurred in patients with severe SLE flares during pregnancies. Lupus pregnancies in our centre generally have a good maternal and foetal outcome comparable with developed countries. The low incidence of antiphospholipid syndrome, the high usage of hydroxychloroquine and the high SLE remission rate in our patients before conceptions are the possible factors contributing to the good outcome.
