Influence of pregnancy, birth and abortion on the evolution of systemic lupus erythematosus

The effect of pregnancy, birth and abortion on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was studied in 225 patients with or without a history of pregnancy and abortion. It was observed that pregnancy, birth and abortion aggravate the evolution of disease in patients with active SLE. The tissue autoantibodies studies presented a low titer in patients in whom pregnancy had occurred in the course of disease. Antimeasles antibodies presented a high titer in patients with a history of gestation. These data suggest that gestation induces immune changes which aggravate SLE.