Systemic lupus erythematosus and pregnancy

In a review of 250 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), there were 24 pregnancies among 18 women. Of these, there were 16 completed pregnancies, 1 stillbirth, 1 spontaneous abortion, and 6 therapeutic abortions. Fetal loss, excluding therapeutic abortion, was 16.6%. Of the 13 patients with active disease at conception, SLE remained active in 11, and became inactive in 2. Of the 11 women with inactive disease at conception, disease remained inactive in 10. Even in the cases of previously serious renal or central nervous system involvement, inactive disease at conception was not associated with disease recurrence. Such patients may attempt pregnancy with favorable prognosis for both mother and child.