title: Pregnancy in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: the importance of counselling for old and new challenges.
abstract: Rheumatic diseases can affect women during their childbearing age. Therefore, physicians should introduce a discussion with the patients about pregnancy and its problems. Lupus pregnancies can be successful, even in patients with renal disease, when planned in remission state; the use of low dose aspirin was shown to be an independent predictor of good outcome, so it can be suggested as a preventive measure. Pregnancies in women with Antiphospholipid Syndrome can fail even if properly treated, especially when associated with a systemic autoimmune disease, a history of both thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity, and a triple positivity of antiphospholipid antibody assays. Women with systemic sclerosis have generally a good obstetric outcome, except for an increase rate of preterm deliveries. Severe disease complications were sometimes reported, but their relationship with gestation is not clear yet. Although data on human pregnancy are still preliminary, anti-TNF agents are classified as non teratogens in contrast to methotrexate and leflunomide. So women affected by aggressive chronic arthritis may be treated with anti-TNF in the pre-conceptional period, discontinuing the drug as soon as pregnancy starts. In order to increase maternal compliance and cope with difficult cases, a multidisciplinary team (rheumatologists/internists, obstetricians and neonatologists) should take care of patients during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andreoli
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bazzani
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taraborelli
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reggia
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lojacono
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brucato
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Meroni
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tincani
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy