title: Special considerations in pregnant systemic sclerosis patients.
abstract: Evaluating the fertility and pregnancy outcomes in systemic sclerosis (SSc) women is challenging. Studies are still limited or subject to potential methodological biases. Areas covered: This work is a comprehensive review of the literature. We discuss the potential impact of SSc on women's pregnancy outcomes and the effects of pregnancy on SSc. We summarize the physiological changes during pregnancy and describe our experience. Expert commentary: Although the miscarriage rate does not appear increased in SSc, women are exposed to a higher risk of premature birth and intrauterine growth restriction compared with the general population. Early diffuse cutaneous SSc and use of corticosteroids are risk factors, whereas folic acid use prevents against premature birth. All SSc women wishing to conceive should be counselled during a preconception visit. Physiological changes arising during pregnancy may be the source of clinical problems in SSc women with organs with limited capacities.
authors.affiliation: a U995 Lille Inflammation Research International Center , Univ. Lille , Lille , France.|b Département de Médecine Interne et Immunologie Clinique , CHRU Lille , Lille , France.|c CHRU Lille , Centre National de Référence Maladies Systémiques et Auto-Immunes Rares (Sclérodermie Systémique) , Lille , France.|d CHRU Lille , FHU Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases and Targeted Therapies (IMMINeNT) , Lille , France.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sobanski
authors.affiliation: a U995 Lille Inflammation Research International Center , Univ. Lille , Lille , France.|b Département de Médecine Interne et Immunologie Clinique , CHRU Lille , Lille , France.|c CHRU Lille , Centre National de Référence Maladies Systémiques et Auto-Immunes Rares (Sclérodermie Systémique) , Lille , France.|d CHRU Lille , FHU Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases and Targeted Therapies (IMMINeNT) , Lille , France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Launay
authors.affiliation: e Département d'Obstétrique, Hôpital Jeanne-de-Flandre , CHRU Lille , Lille , France.
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Depret
authors.affiliation: f Pôle d'Anesthésie-Réanimation, Hôpital Jeanne-de-Flandre , CHRU Lille , Lille , France.
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ducloy-Bouthors
authors.affiliation: a U995 Lille Inflammation Research International Center , Univ. Lille , Lille , France.|b Département de Médecine Interne et Immunologie Clinique , CHRU Lille , Lille , France.|c CHRU Lille , Centre National de Référence Maladies Systémiques et Auto-Immunes Rares (Sclérodermie Systémique) , Lille , France.|d CHRU Lille , FHU Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases and Targeted Therapies (IMMINeNT) , Lille , France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hachulla
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012306:Risk; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Systemic sclerosis; connective tissue disease; hypertension; miscarriage; placenta; preeclampsia; pregnancy; prematurity; renal crisis; scleroderma