Pregnancy in relapsing polychondritis: twenty-five pregnancies in eleven patients

To determine maternal and fetal outcome in pregnant women with relapsing polychondritis (RP).

Retrospective review of 11 records selected from among those of 116 female RP (Michet's criteria) patients.

In these 11 women, 25 pregnancies occurred after or concomitantly with the onset of RP. The mean (+/- SD) age at RP onset was 25 +/- 5 years (range 15-31). Therapeutic abortion was performed in 1 woman because of ongoing cyclophosphamide treatment. Disease flare occurred in 7 of 24 pregnancies, requiring treatment modification in 2 cases. RP was considered stable in 16 and asymptomatic in 1 of the 24. Treatment of RP was with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (2 of 24), steroids (13 of 24), dapsone (7 of 24), or plasma exchanges (1 of 24); no treatment was given in 8 of the 24 pregnancies. In 14 pregnancies, the course was uneventful. Ten pregnancies were complicated by ectopic nidation (n = 3), spontaneous abortion (n = 3), premature birth (n = 3), and premature rupture of membranes (n = 1). Eighteen normal children were born.

Pregnancy does not seem to modify the course of RP. Successful pregnancies may be achieved in women with RP. No RP was observed in the neonates.