Pregnancy in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that predominantly aVects women of reproductive age. Pregnancy and its outcome is a major concern to most SLE patients. Queries regarding the risk of disease flares during pregnancy, chance of fetal loss, and the safety of various drugs are often raised. With the improvement in the understanding of the pathogenesis of SLE and the judicious use of immunosuppressive drugs, better disease control can now be achieved and SLE patients should not be deprived of the opportunity for bearing children. Prepregnancy counselling and close collaboration with other specialists such as the obstetricians and the perinatologists is essential in optimising the maternal and fetal outcome in lupus pregnancies. In this review, important issues regarding the fertility rate, optimal timing of conception, risk of disease flares during lupus pregnancy, pregnancy course, fetal outcome, safety of various drugs used for disease control during pregnancy and lactation, and contraceptive advice are discussed. (Postgrad Med J 2001;77:157–165)