The effect of newly diagnosed undifferentiated connective tissue disease on pregnancy outcome.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate pregnancy outcome in a cohort of patients with newly diagnosed undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD).


METHODS
We conducted a nested case-control study that compared 41 patients who had early UCTD that was diagnosed at 11-14 weeks of pregnancy with 82 healthy control subjects.


RESULTS
During pregnancy, UCTD progressed to a definite connective tissue disease in 2 of 41 patients (4.9%). Sixteen of the 41 patients (39%) with UCTD tested positive for anti-Ro (SSA) antibodies. Compared with the control subjects, the women with UCTD had higher rates of small for gestational age (SGA; 12/40 vs 11/80; P = .05). The rate of complications of pregnancy (preterm delivery at </= 37 weeks of gestation, SGA, preeclampsia, late fetal loss) was 39% (16/41) among cases and 13.4% (11/82) in control subjects (adjusted odds ratio, 3.98; 95% CI, 1.59-9.49).


CONCLUSIONS
Pregnant patients with UCTD are at increased risk of SGA and complications of pregnancy.
Spinillo
Arsenio
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Beneventi
Fausta
F
Epis
Oscar M
OM
Montanari
Laura
L
Mammoliti
Deborah
D
Ramoni
Veronique
V
Di Silverio
Elena
E
Alpini
Claudia
C
Caporali
Roberto
R
Montecucco
Carlomaurizio
C
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000276:immunology; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014463:Ultrasonography