title: Pregnancy in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
abstract: For many years pregnancy has been contraindicated in patients with SLE, particularly when kidney involvement was present. Today, pregnancy is no longer considered impossible in women with lupus. Yet, lupus pregnancies are still considered high-risk. The prognosis has considerably improved for pregnant women but the fetal risk, although progressively reduced, is still higher in pregnancies of patients with SLE than in pregnancies of healthy women. Miscarriage, premature delivery, and preeclampsia, as well as heart problems in the baby are the major complications that can occur. In this paper we will review the outcome of pregnant women with SLE, the influence of lupus on fetal outcome, the effects of pregnancy on lupus, and the management of pregnant lupus patients based on our personal experience and the revision of the most recent and significant papers on the subject.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Unit Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Milano, Italy. Electronic address: gmoroni@policlinico.mi.it.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moroni
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Unit, Clinical and Research Center Humanitas, Rozzano, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ponticelli
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000276:immunology; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D000925:Anticoagulants; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D006493:Heparin; D001241:Aspirin