Complications

Lupus and Pregnancy

Lupus is also known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This is a widespread and chronic inflammatory condition caused by autoimmune disease that, for unknown reasons, occurs when the immune system, instead of serving its normal protective function, forms antibodies and cells to attack its own healthy tissues and organs, including the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, brain and blood.

Because individuals with lupus have an unusual number of antibodies directed against their own immune system, the concern of pregnant women is how this condition may affect a developing baby. Research has found that lupus primarily affects young women, and more than 50% of all lupus pregnancies at any age are completely normal, while 25% of pregnant women with lupus deliver normal babies but prematurely.

The risk of miscarriage or death of the baby is less than 20%, and although not all the health problems of pregnancy associated with lupus have been solved, healthy newborns is the rule for most pregnant women who have developed this disease.

Although your best moment to get pregnant is when you are at your healthiest, because having been diagnosed with lupus but you are in lupus remission, you will have fewer problems in comparison to women with active disease, as the baby will do much better. Lupus flares are uncommon and, if they occur, they are usually mild and easily treated.

If you conceived after 6 months of remission, it is less likely to experience a lupus flare. Symptoms of flares include fatigue, rashes and arthritis, and even new hair growth during pregnancy, followed by a dramatic hair loss after delivery. However, make sure to ask your doctor, because abnormalities in lupus tests may be due to pregnancy rather than to lupus.

About 20% of all women with lupus will have an increasing of protein, or a new occurrence in protein in the urine. Around 33% will have a decrease in platelet count during pregnancy, although such levels return to normal after delivery, and some women with lupus may experience an improvement in disease symptoms during pregnancy.

Premature birth, before week 36, is the greatest risk resulting from lupus, but the presence of lupus nephritis before you conceived, may drastically increase your chances of having complications during pregnancy. Lupus pregnancies usually end before week 40 in approximately 50% of all the cases, because of complications, with babies who become anemic, suffer from breathing difficulties, and develop jaundice.

To avoid these complications and increase your chances of giving birth to a healthy baby, eat well, do not smoke or drink, avoid the use of "recreational" drugs, and take your medications as prescribed by your doctors, and visit him regularly.