Pregnancy and Management in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Obstetric Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Adela Castro-Gutierrez; Kristen Young; Bonnie L Bermas

doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2022.02.009

Pregnancy and Management in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Obstetric Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2022 May;48(2):523-535. doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2022.02.009.

Authors

Adela Castro-Gutierrez¹, Kristen Young¹, Bonnie L Bermas²

Affiliations

¹ UT Southwestern Medical Center, 2001 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
² UT Southwestern Medical Center, 2001 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. Electronic address: Bonnie.Bermas@UTSouthwestern.edu.

PMID: 35400376
DOI: 10.1016/j.rdc.2022.02.009

Abstract

Management of women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) during pregnancy presents unique clinical challenges. Women with both RA and SLE can have disease flares during pregnancy, leading to pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, small-for-gestational-age infants, and preterm delivery. Disease should be under control prior to conception. Women with obstetric APS need to be anticoagulated during pregnancy. Many but not all antirheumatic medications can be used during pregnancy and lactation.

Keywords: Obstetric APS; Pregnancy; Rheumatoid arthritis; Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Antiphospholipid Syndrome* / complications
Antiphospholipid Syndrome* / diagnosis
Antiphospholipid Syndrome* / therapy
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / complications
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / drug therapy
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* / complications
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* / drug therapy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications* / drug therapy
Pregnancy Outcome