The effect of systemic lupus erythematosus on pregnancy and pregnancy outcome

This review provides an analysis of reports published since 1980 on the effect of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on pregnancy and pregnancy outcome. The question whether pregnancy increases clinical flares and the severity of flares in patients with SLE during pregnancy has not been resolved because of difficulty in defining exacerbations of SLE and of preeclampsia. An analysis of major detailed reports indicates that maternal complications are reduced in patients who are in clinical remission prior to the onset of pregnancy compared with women with persistent disease activity. Complications are observed in 30%-50% of patients with inactive disease at onset of gestation. After exclusion of spontaneous abortions during the first trimester, fetal survival was 85%-90% in most reported case series. The best outcomes were reported in patients with inactive disease at onset of pregnancy. It seems likely that some maternal complications and fetal wastage in this population are related to anticardiolipin antibodies.