Lupus and pregnancy

What is lupus?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease affecting various organs. It goes through periods of remission and exacerbation. Women get the disease more often than men. During the course of lupus, antibodies such as anti-Ro and anti-La appear in the body. Symptoms of the disease include weakness, fever, fatigue, weight loss or skin changes such as butterfly-shaped erythema on the face. Muscle and joint pains may also appear.

Lupus – preparing for pregnancy

Women with lupus should prepare for pregnancy together with their rheumatologist and gynecologist. It is extremely important that the disease be well controlled. It is considered that remission before pregnancy should last min. 6 months. If teratogenic drugs were previously taken, an even longer interval may be necessary. Systemic lupus itself, according to studies, does not reduce fertility (in remission), but can cause complications in pregnancy. Therefore, it is referred to as a high-risk pregnancy and requires specialized care.

Pregnant woman suffering from lupus

A mother-to-be who has lupus should receive specialized care throughout her pregnancy. It is necessary to test antibody levels or assess kidney function. Indeed, one of the most common complications of lupus in pregnancy is kidney disease. Careful ultrasound and evaluation of fetal growth are also important. General urinalysis and blood pressure measurements should also be taken regularly. You should also modify your treatment from that before pregnancy after consulting with your doctor.

Lupus – complications in pregnancy

If a woman becomes pregnant during an exacerbation of a disease such as systemic lupus, miscarriage or intrauterine death can occur. For this reason, it is very important to prepare properly for pregnancy and be under the constant care of a specialist,

Newborns born to women with lupus have a higher risk of low birth weight. They are also more often born prematurely (before 37 wks). Moms-to-be with lupus have an increased risk of pre-eclampsia and hypertension during pregnancy.

However, with good preparation for pregnancy and being under the care of an experienced specialist, it is possible to carry the pregnancy to term and have a happy ending.