title: Connective tissue disease in pregnancy.
abstract: Connective tissue diseases (CTD) include a variety of chronic multisystem disorders with a high percentage of autoimmune conditions. Many of these conditions affect women of childbearing age and, therefore, pregnancy poses an important challenge for doctors looking after such women. Knowledge of medication safety, the effect of pregnancy on such diseases and vice versa, together with preconception counselling and multidisciplinary team care, are the basic pillars needed to provide the best obstetric and medical care to these women. In this review, we discuss the management of the most common autoimmune CTD before, during and after pregnancy, along with the most relevant issues regarding appropriate medication.
authors.affiliation: John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Oier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ateka-Barrutia
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nelson-Piercy
mesh_terms: D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
keywords: Pregnancy; connective tissue disease; management; medications; pre-pregnancy counselling