Skip to main content
Log in

Obstetric outcomes and prognostic factors of lupus pregnancies

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To determine maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancies with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and to evaluate the prognostic factors that may affect obstetrical outcomes.

Methods

Sixty-five consecutive cases of SLE and pregnancy were included in this retrospective clinical study, performed in a university hospital which is also a reference center for SLE. Lupus pregnancies followed and delivered during the period from 2002 to 2011 in our department are evaluated. Obstetric outcomes and prognostic factors were main outcome measures.

Results

The mean patient age was 28.8 years and the nulliparity rate was 43.1 %. Disease flare-up occurred in 7.7 % of patients. Lupus anticoagulants, anticardiolipin IgG and IgM antibodies were positive in 27.6, 15.3 and 13.8 % of patients, respectively. Mean gestational age at delivery was 36.6 ± 4.2 and mean birth weight was 2,706 ± 927 g. Stillbirth, fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia and preterm delivery rates were 4.6, 18.5, 9.2 and 27.6 %, respectively. Cases with uterine artery Doppler abnormalities had significantly poorer obstetric outcomes.

Conclusions

Multidisciplinary approach to the care of pregnant women with SLE is mandatory for good maternal and fetal outcomes. Uterine artery Doppler seems to be a good prognostic factor for adverse obstetric outcomes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. D’Cruz DP, Khamashta MA, Hughes GRV (2007) Systemic lupus erythematosus. Lancet 369:587–596

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Lawrenz B, Henes J, Henes M, Neunhoeffer E, Schmalzing M, Fehm T et al (2011) Impact of systemic lupus erythematosus on ovarian reserve in premenopausal women: evaluation by using anti-muellerian hormone. Lupus 20:1193–1197

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Doria A, Tincani M, Lockshin MD (2008) Challenges of lupus pregnancies. Rheumatology 47(3):9–12

    Google Scholar 

  4. Clowse ME, Jamison M, Myers E, James AH (2008) A national study of the complications of lupus in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 199(127):e1–e6

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Brucato A, Frassi M, Franceschini F, Cimaz R, Faden D, Pisoni MP et al (2001) Risk of congenital complete heart block in newborns of mothers with anti-Ro/SSA antibodies detected by counter immunoelectrophoresis. A prospective study of 100 women. Arthritis Rheum 44:1832–1835

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Cortes-Hernandez J, Ordi-Ros J, Paredes F, Casellas M, Castillo F, Vilardell-Tarres M (2002) Clinical predictors of fetal and maternal outcome in systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective study of 103 pregnancies. Rheumatology 41:643–650

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Petri M, Howard D, Repke J (1991) Frequency of lupus flare in pregnancy: the hopkins lupus pregnancy center experience. Arthritis Rheum 34:1538–1545

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ruitz-Irastorza G, Lima F, Alves J, Khamashta MA, Simpson J, Hughes GR et al (1996) Increased rate of lupus flare during pregnancy and the puerperium. Br J Rheumatol 35:133–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Lockshin MD, Reinitz E, Druzin ML, Murrman M, Estes D (1984) Lupus pregnancy: case control prospective study demonstrating absence of lupus exacerbation during or after pregnancy. Am J Med 77:893–898

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Urowitz MB, Gladman DD, Farewell VT, Stewart J, McDonald J (1993) Lupus and pregnancy studies. Arthritis Rheum 36:1392–1397

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hochberg MC (1997) Updating the american college of rheumatology revised criteria for the classification of systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum 40:1725

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Miyakis S, Lockshin MD, Atsumi T, Branch DW, Brey RL, Cervera R et al (2006) International consensus statement on an update of the classification criteria for definite antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). J Thromb Haemost 4:295–306

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Mok CC, Wong RWS (2001) Pregnancy in systemic lupus erythematosus. Postgrad Med J 77:157–165

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Mauragani CP, Dafni UG, Tzioufas AG, Moutsopoulos HM (1998) Pregnancy outcome and anti-Ro/SSA in autoimmune disease. A retrospective cohort study. Br J Rheumatol 37:740–745

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Georgiou PE, Politi EN, Saka V, Drosos AA (2000) Outcome of lupus pregnancy: a controlled study. Rheumatology 39:1014–1019

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Al Arfaj AS, Khalil N (2010) Pregnancy outcome in 396 pregnancies in patients with SLE in Saudi Arabia. Lupus 19:1665–1673

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Molad Y, Borkowski T, Monselise A, Ben-Haroush A, Sulkes J, Hod M et al (2005) Maternal and fetal outcome of lupus pregnancy: a prospective study of 29 pregnancies. Lupus 14:145–151

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Witter FR, Petri M (2000) Antenatal detection of intrauterine growth restriction in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Int Gynaecol Obstet 71:67–68

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Chakravarty EF, Colon I, Langen ES, Nix DA, El-Sayed YY, Genovese MC et al (2005) Factors that predict prematurity and preeclampsia in pregnancies that are complicated by systemic lupus erythematosus. Am J Obstet Gynecol 192:1897–1904

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Clowse ME, Magder LS, Witter F, Petri M (2006) Early risk factors for pregnancy loss in lupus. Obstet Gynecol 107:293–299

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Whitelaw DA, Hall D, Kotze T (2008) Pregnancy in systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective study from a developing community. Clin Rheumatol 27:577–580

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Nossent HC, Swaak TJG (1990) Systemic lupus erythematosus VI: analysis of the interrelationship with pregnancy. J Rheumatol 17:771–776

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Cavallaca JA, Laborde HA, Ruda-Vega H, Nasswetter GG (2008) Maternal and fetal outcomes of 72 pregnancies in argentine patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Clin Rheumatol 27:41–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Madazli R, Somunkiran A, Calay Z, Ilvan S, Aksu MF (2003) Histomorphology of the placenta and the placental bed of growth restricted foetuses and correlation with the doppler velocimetries of the uterine and umbilical arteries. Placenta 24:510–516

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

We state that no conflicts of interest exist.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Riza Madazli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Madazli, R., Yuksel, M.A., Oncul, M. et al. Obstetric outcomes and prognostic factors of lupus pregnancies. Arch Gynecol Obstet 289, 49–53 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-013-2935-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-013-2935-4

Keywords

Navigation