title: Vasculitis and Pregnancy.
abstract: Vasculitis is more often a disease of women beyond their reproductive years, leaving the challenges of pregnancy management difficult to study. Pregnancy complications, including pregnancy loss and preterm birth, are higher among women with all forms of vasculitis. It seems that controlling the disease before pregnancy may improve the chances of pregnancy success. Many medications used for vasculitis are considered low risk in pregnancy, including prednisone, colchicine, azathioprine, and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. Cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and mycophenolate mofetil should be avoided in pregnancy. Controlling disease with low-risk medications may allow women with vasculitis to have the pregnancies they desire.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Machen
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3535 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: megan.clowse@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Megan E B
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Clowse
mesh_terms: D056648:Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D000075202:Contraindications; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D000069340:Deprescriptions; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008727:Methotrexate; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D001379:Azathioprine; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: ANCA-associated vasculitis; Behçet disease; Prednisone; Pregnancy; TNF-Inhibitor; Takayasu arteritis; Vasculitis