Scleroderma in pregnancy

The case records of four patients with scleroderma who booked for care between 1989 and 1994 at the Birmingham Women's Hospital (formerly the Birmingham Maternity Hospital), a tertiary care obstetric unit, were studied retrospectively. The aim of the study was to look at infertility, early and late pregnancy losses, fetal growth retardation and maternal complications in these four women afflicted with this rare condition. Two patients gave a history of infertility. There were two growth retarded fetuses and one intrauterine fetal death. Worsening Raynaud's phenomenon occurred in three patients. Another patient developed massive haematemesis due to an oesophageal tear resulting from intractable vomiting. Scleroderma may adversely affect pregnancy: obstetrical complications are common and require close monitoring.