Impact of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus on Pregnancy: Analysis of a Large 10-Year Longitudinal Mexican Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is considered a high risk one since it is associated with a higher rate of maternal-fetal complications compared with the pregnancies in healthy women. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the maternal-fetal outcomes in a cohort of Mexican patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and to identify risk factors associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cohort of pregnant lupus patients was analyzed. Maternal-fetal complications were described, and clinical, biochemical, and immunological variables associated with obstetric adverse outcomes were studied. Descriptive statistics, comparison of variables using appropriate tests, and finally logistic regression analysis were performed to identify potential risk factors for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 351 pregnancies were included in a 10-year period. The most frequently observed maternal adverse outcomes were lupus flare (35%) and preeclampsia (14.5%). Active lupus before pregnancy (hazards ratio [HR], 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-12.5; p = 0.003) was a predictor for these complications, whereas the use of antimalarial drugs (HR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.7; p = 0.007) was a protective factor. The most frequent fetal adverse outcomes were preterm birth (38.1%), miscarriages (10%), and low birth weight babies (28%), and very low birth weight newborns (11%). Proteinuria in early pregnancy (HR, 7.1; 95% CI, 1.01-50.3; p = 0.04) and preeclampsia (HR, 9.3; 95% CI, 1.7-49.7; p = 0.009) were risk factors associated with these complications. CONCLUSIONS: Variables related to systemic lupus erythematosus activity predict an adverse maternal outcome, whereas proteinuria in early pregnancy and preeclampsia are associated with an adverse fetal outcome.

Use of antimalarial drugs is associated with a lower risk of preeclampsia in lupus pregnancy: A prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Several factors have been associated with the development of preeclampsia in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors associated with preeclampsia in patients with SLE and its impact on fetal outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied a prospective cohort of pregnancies in women with SLE from January 2009 to December 2018. Demographic, clinical, serological and drug use characteristics were compared between patients who developed preeclampsia and those who did not, as well as the main neonatal outcomes. An adjusted logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors potentially associated with preeclampsia. RESULTS: We studied 316 pregnancies of 20 or more weeks of gestation. A total of 46 pregnancies (14.5%) were complicated by preeclampsia. A higher frequency of active disease before pregnancy (24.4% vs 11.3%, P = .01) and history of lupus nephritis (56.5% vs 30.1%, P < .001) were found in those patients who developed preeclampsia compared to those who did not. Preeclampsia was associated with a higher rate of prematurity, births of very low birth weight, stillbirth, and neonatal death. The multivariate analysis showed that the activity of the disease before (relative risk [RR] 2.7, 95% CI 1.04-7.4, P = .04) and during pregnancy (RR 3.0, 95% CI 1.0-9.1, P = .04) was associated with the development of preeclampsia. The use of antimalarial drugs during pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of preeclampsia (RR 0.21, 95% CI 0.08-0.53, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the use of antimalarial drugs during pregnancy reduces the risk of preeclampsia in lupus pregnancies.

Probiotics' effectiveness on symptoms, histological features and feeding tolerance in ulcerative colitis / Efectividad de probióticos sobre síntomas, histología y tolerancia alimentaria en colitis ulcerativa

Background: Probiotics have been used in the adjuvant treatment of Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Objective: To evaluate the role of a combination of probiotics on the clinical, histological changes and feeding tolerance in patients with UC. Methods: An open UC patients with mild to moderate activity and clinical trial was conducted. Patients were randomized to receive or a combination of 6 strains of probiotics for 3 months while continuing their drug treatment established. UC activity was assessed by Truelove and Witts scale and histological findings by Gupta index. Descriptive statistics, Chi square test and Student t test for comparison of the two groups was performed. Results: In each group 17 patients were included. An improvement was found in the disease activity (52.9% vs. 23.5%, p = 0.07) and in histologic index (82.3% vs. 41.1%, p = 0.03) in patients treated with probiotics compared to the control group. Improved food tolerance was also observed in patients treated with probiotics. Conclusion: The study shows a beneficial short-term effect on symptoms, histological findings and feeding tolerance with the administration of a combination of 6 strains of probiotics in patients with UC.

Introducción: los probióticos han sido utilizados en el tratamiento adyuvante de la colitis ulcerativa (CU). Objetivo: evaluar el papel de una combinación de probióticos sobre las manifestaciones clínicas, cambios histológicos y tolerancia alimentaria en pacientes con CU. Métodos: se realizó un ensayo clínico abierto de pacientes con CU y actividad leve a moderada. Los pacientes se aleatorizaron para recibir, o no, una combinación de 6 cepas de probióticos durante 3 meses, mientras continuaban con el tratamiento farmacológico establecido. Se evaluó la actividad de la CU mediante la escala de Truelove and Witts, y los hallazgos histológicos mediante el índice de Gupta. Se realizó estadística descriptiva, prueba de Chi cuadrada y t de Student para la comparación de ambos grupos. Resultados: se incluyeron 17 pacientes por grupo. Se encontró una mejoría en la actividad de la enfermedad (52.9% frente a 23.5%, p = 0.07) y en el índice histológico (82.3% frente a 41.1%, p = 0.03) en los pacientes tratados con probióticos en comparación con el grupo control. También se observó una mejor tolerancia alimentaria en los pacientes tratados con probióticos. Conclusión: el estudio muestra un efecto benéfico a corto plazo sobre los síntomas, hallazgos histológicos y tolerancia alimentaria con la administración de una combinación de 6 cepas de probióticos en pacientes con CU.

Pregnancy outcomes in women with childhood-onset and adult-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: a comparative study.

To compare the maternal and fetal outcomes between childhood-onset and adult-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we reviewed the medical records of SLE pregnant women treated from January 2005 to August 2013. For comparison, patients were allocated to one of the two groups, those pregnant patients with SLE onset before 18 years of age (childhood-onset) and ≥18 years (adult-onset). The patients were evaluated at least once in each trimester and postpartum. Relevant maternal and fetal outcomes were extracted, such as lupus flare, preeclampsia/eclampsia, rate of liveborns, fetal loss (spontaneous abortion and stillbirth), term delivery, preterm birth, neonatal death, low birth weight, low birth weight at term, and congenital malformations. We studied 186 pregnancies (in 180 women), 58 of them had childhood-onset SLE, and the remaining 128 had adult-onset SLE. The rate of maternal and fetal complications was similar in both groups. Multivariate analysis showed that active SLE before pregnancy, primigravida, renal flare, preeclampsia, lupus flare, anticardiolipin antibodies, and low serum complement were associated with an increased risk of poor maternal and fetal outcomes. The diagnosis of childhood-onset had no impact on maternal-fetal outcome. The maternal and fetal outcome in women with childhood-onset SLE is similar to that reported in women with adult-onset SLE. Pregnancy in women with childhood-onset SLE should not be contraindicated if the disease is well controlled.

[Maternal and fetal outcome in Mexican women with rheumatoid arthritis]. / Desenlace materno-fetal en mujeres mexicanas con artritis reumatoide.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience in maternal-fetal outcome in women with RA in a national medical referral center. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the records of pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis attending at a Pregnancy and Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases Clinic was performed. Maternal-fetal outcomes such as disease activity, preclampsia/eclampsia, rate of live births, abortions, stillbirths, preterm birth, weeks of gestation, birth weight, congenital malformations and use of anti-rheumatic drugs were studied. RESULTS: We included 73 pregnancies in 72 patients. Disease activity was documented in 47.2% of patients during pregnancy and/or postpartum and 87.7% of patients received some antirheumatic drug. Preclampsia developed in 8.2% of cases. The live birth rate was 98.6%, with preterm delivery in 15.9% and low weight at term in 17.6% of cases. Cesarean section was performed in 77.1% of cases. The disease activity was not associated with a higher percentage of maternal-fetal complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that most patients do not experience significant activity of RA during pregnancy, fetal outcome is satisfactory and disease activity did not appear to influence significantly the obstetric outcome.

Objetivo: reportar la experiencia en el desenlace materno-fetal de mujeres con artritis reumatoide en un centro médico nacional de referencia.Métodos: se realizó un análisis retrospectivo de los expedientes de mujeres embarazadas con artritis reumatoide que fueron atendidas en una clínica de embarazo y enfermedades reumáticas autoinmunes. Se estudió el desenlace materno-fetal considerado como: actividad de la enfermedad, preeclampsia/eclampsia, tasa de nacidos vivos, abortos, óbitos, parto pretérmino, semanas de gestación, peso al nacer, malformaciones congénitas y uso de fármacos antirreumáticos.Resultados: se incluyeron 73 embarazos en 72 pacientes. Se documentó actividad de la enfermedad en el 47.2 % de las pacientes durante el embarazo y/o posparto. El 87.7 % de las pacientes recibió algún fármaco antirreumático. Se desarrolló preeclampsia en el 8.2 % de los casos. La tasa de nacidos vivos fue de 98.6 %, con parto pretérmino en el 15.9 % y bajo peso a término en el 17.6 % de los casos. El 77.1 % de los productos nació vía cesárea. La actividad de la enfermedad no se asoció a un mayor porcentaje de complicaciones materno-fetales.Conclusiones: nuestro estudio mostró que la mayoría de las pacientes no experimenta actividad significativa de la AR durante el embarazo, el desenlace fetal es satisfactorio y la actividad de la enfermedad no influye de manera importante el desenlace obstétrico.

Risk factors of systemic lupus erythematosus flares during pregnancy.

This review examines the risk factors for the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flares during pregnancy. In preconception, anti-DNA, hypocomplementemia, previous thrombosis, triple antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody positivity, active lupus nephritis and discontinuation of medications such as hydroxychloroquine and azathioprine are factors associated with pregnancy failure. During pregnancy, SLE flares are associated with aPL antibodies, synergic changes of pregnancy on Th1 and TH2 cytokines, other cytokines and chemokines that interact with hormones such as estrogen and prolactin that amplify the inflammatory effect. From the clinical point of view, SLE activity at pregnancy onset, thrombocytopenia, lupus nephritis, arterial hypertension, aPL syndromes, preeclampsia is associated with lupus flares and fetal complications. In puerperium, the risk factors of flares are similar to pregnancy. Hyperactivity of immune system, autoantibodies, hyperprolactinemia, active lupus nephritis, decrease in TH2 cytokines with increase in TH1 cytokines probably participate in SLE flare. The SLE flares during pregnancy make the difference between an uncomplicated pregnancy and pregnancy with maternal and fetal complications. Therefore, the knowledge of risk factors leads the best treatment strategies to reduce flares and fetal complications in SLE patients.