Refereed journal article or data article (A1)
Hypertension as a risk factor in pregnancies complicated by systemic lupus erythematosus
List of Authors: Kaaja R, Julkunen H, Ammälä P
Publication year: 1990
Journal: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
Journal name in source: Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica
Journal acronym: Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand
Volume number: 69
Issue number: 5
Start page: 393
End page: 6
Number of pages: 4
ISSN: 0001-6349
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/00016349009013299
Abstract
To study the occurrence and significance of pregnancy-associated hypertension and pre-eclampsia in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we studied retrospectively 34 pregnancies in 27 SLE patients in 1981-87. Eleven pregnancies (32%) were hypertensive (group A). The remaining 18 patients during their 23 pregnancies had a normal blood pressure (group B). Previous nephritis was slightly more common in the hypertensive group (54.5% vs. 26.1%, NS). Preeclampsia was present in seven of the pregnancies (21%) and of whom four were superimposed. Flare-ups of the disease were more common in the non-hypertensive group (30.4%) than in group A (9.1%) (NS). Duration of pregnancy was the same in the two groups. Intra-uterine growth retardation was present in 27.3% of the pregnancies in group A and in 13.0% of group B (NS). Fetal loss occurred only in 2 patients of the non-hypertensive group; one patient had exacerbation of SLE and the other (with two stillbirths) high anticardiolipin antibodies. Our data suggest that pregnancy-associated hypertension and pre-eclampsia do not cause increased fetal loss in pregnancies affected by SLE. There seem to be other factors that are more important, such as antiphospholipid antibodies and flare-ups of the disease.
To study the occurrence and significance of pregnancy-associated hypertension and pre-eclampsia in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we studied retrospectively 34 pregnancies in 27 SLE patients in 1981-87. Eleven pregnancies (32%) were hypertensive (group A). The remaining 18 patients during their 23 pregnancies had a normal blood pressure (group B). Previous nephritis was slightly more common in the hypertensive group (54.5% vs. 26.1%, NS). Preeclampsia was present in seven of the pregnancies (21%) and of whom four were superimposed. Flare-ups of the disease were more common in the non-hypertensive group (30.4%) than in group A (9.1%) (NS). Duration of pregnancy was the same in the two groups. Intra-uterine growth retardation was present in 27.3% of the pregnancies in group A and in 13.0% of group B (NS). Fetal loss occurred only in 2 patients of the non-hypertensive group; one patient had exacerbation of SLE and the other (with two stillbirths) high anticardiolipin antibodies. Our data suggest that pregnancy-associated hypertension and pre-eclampsia do not cause increased fetal loss in pregnancies affected by SLE. There seem to be other factors that are more important, such as antiphospholipid antibodies and flare-ups of the disease.
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