Systemic lupus and pregnancy. General review
Nizard, V.
Journal de Gynecologie Obstetrique et Biologie de la Reproduction 18(5): 649-656
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0368-2315 PMID: 2681368 Document Number: 337842
The obstetrician is concerned with disseminated lupus because it is a relatively common illness which particularly affects women of reproductive age. This article reviews the literature in order to try to find an answer to the question: what effect pregnancy has on lupus and lupus on pregnancy. As far as the mother is concerned, pregnancy does not seem to increase the likelihood of relapse. Those women are most in danger who had renal disease before the pregnancy and still more if the renal lesions were active at the time of conception. There is no place any more for therapeutic termination of pregnancy nor probably for systematic treatment with cortisone. The prognosis for the fetus is more serious and does not depend on the maternal state. Fetal loss seems to be of the order of 40%, particularly due to non-specific complications of the illness. Neonatal lupus is linked to the presence of anti-Ro antibodies and to a particular HLA type. Finally, the criteria to be observed for looking after the mother and fetus are summarised.