“Our study provides nationwide evidence that SLE pregnancy outcomes have become markedly better in the past two decades and continue to improve. However, SLE pregnancy risks remain high, and more work is needed to ensure good pregnancy outcomes among women with SLE,” Dr. Mehta and colleagues conclude.
Dr. Clowse agrees. “Work still must be done…regarding preeclampsia and fetal and maternal mortality, each of which is several times more common in women with SLE than in those without the disease.”
“Although great advances have been made in therapy, recent analyses demonstrate that use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and aspirin in SLE pregnancy is not widespread. The inaugural reproductive health guidelines soon to be published by the American College of Rheumatology will have the potential to help expand state-of-the-art approaches to the management of pregnant women with SLE seen in everyday practice,” Dr. Clowse notes.
The study had no specific funding and the authors have no relevant disclosures. Dr. Mehta did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
References
- Clowse MEB. Pregnancy in women with lupus: We have come so far and have so far to go. Ann Intern Med. 2019 Jul 9.
- Mehta B, Luo Y, Xu J, et al. Trends in maternal and fetal outcomes among pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus in the United States: A cross-sectional analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2019 Jul 9.
