Systemic lupus erythematosus and pregnancy

J Reprod Med. 1998 Apr;43(4):355-60.

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may improve, exacerbate or be unchanged during pregnancy. The activity of SLE at the time of conception has a major influence on pregnancy outcome: SLE patients with quiescent disease do well, while those with active, uncontrollable disease have a high abortion rate. There are specific autoantibodies that confer a high risk of abortion (e.g., IgG antiphospholipid antibodies). There are others, such as anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB, which confer a risk for neonatal lupus that includes lupus dermatitis, congenital complete heart block, thrombocytopenia and cholestatic jaundice, in order of their relative frequencies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / etiology*
  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / analysis
  • Autoantibodies / analysis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases / etiology
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases / immunology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / physiopathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / physiopathology*
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
  • Autoantibodies