Fertility and Pregnancy Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients: A Study Using Antimullerian Hormone

Abstract

Background: Systemic lupus Erthymatosus (SLE) affects predominantly women of reproductive age, and can lead to both negative effect on their fertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Antimullerian hormone (AMH) serum levels have been found to be a reliable marker of ovarian reserve. Objectives: This research aimed to assess ovarian reserve by measuring AMH level in premenopausal SLE patients and to study different factors that can have an effect on it, and also to evaluate pregnancy outcomes in SLE patients. Methods: The study was performed on 60 subjects divided into 2 groups; (I): 30 SLE female patients and (II): control group which includes 30 healthy female subjects. Full history taking and examination were carried out including assessment of disease activity by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2K) score and damage index by Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics American College of Rheumatology Damage index (SLICC/ACR) on SLE patients, pregnancy questionnaire were used for taking history of the pregnancy outcomes. AMH levels were measured in both groups using AMH Gen II ELISA kits. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between both groups as regard to median AMH levels and there was no statistically significant correlation between AMH and disease duration, BMI, SLEDAI-2K activity score, damage index and the immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil and azathioprine. There was statistically significant difference between both groups as regards to occurrence of miscarriage (P<0.0166) and hypertension in pregnancy (P<0.04). Conclusion: From these results we can conclude that AMH values did not differ between SLE patients and healthy subjects, and the disease duration and/or activity did not affect its level. Moreover, the study reflected that immunosuppressive agents such as cyclophosphamide, azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil did not affect the fertility in SLE patients. However, it was noted that adverse pregnancy outcomes were relatively more common in SLE patients, namely hypertension in pregnancy and miscarriages.