Clinical analysis of pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Objective To analyze how systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) affect the pregnancy outcome. Methods This retrospective study was conducted in 34 pregnant women with SLE in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College from 2005 through 2009, including 14 planned pregnancy women and 20 unplanned ones. The women having a child under doctors' guidance were in planned pregnancy group, otherwise in unplanned pregnancy group. Compared the delivery pregnancy week and pregnancy outcome between the two groups. Continuous variables C3 and C4 were evaluated using independent samples t test. The ratios of the two groups were evaluated using Fisher's exact test. Results In planned pregnancy group (14 cases), 11 patients were stable, 6 were term delivery and 6 were premature. The average delivery pregnancy week was (35.3±4.3) week, the mean neonatal weight was (2076.9±192.4) g. In unplanned pregnancy group (20 cases), 12 cases had SLE flares, 4 patients were term delivery and 6 were premature. The average delivery pregnancy week was (33.6±4.2) week, the mean neonatal weight was (1315.0±488.5) g. Compared with unplanned pregnancy group, the successful pregnancy rates in planned pregnancy group were significantly higher (86% vs 50%, P=0.035). Conclusions Pregnancy women with SLE should be regarded as high risk pregnancy. The ratios of fetal loss are significantly increasing in unplanned pregnancy women. The pregnancy outcome could be significantly improved if the patients are planned pregnancy and received multidisciplinary cooperation treatment. Key words: Pregnancy complications; Lupus erythematosus, systemic; Pregnancy outcome