State of the Art: Reproduction and Pregnancy in Rheumatic Diseases

Publication date: Available online 30 December 2014 Source:Autoimmunity Reviews Author(s): Monika Østensen , Laura Andreoli , Antonio Brucato , Irene Cetin , Christina Chambers , Megan Clowse , Nathalie Costedoat-Chalumeau , Maurizio Cutolo , Radboud Dolhain , M. Fenstad , Frauke Förger , Marie Wahren-Herlenius , Guillermo Ruiz-Irastorza , Hege Koksvik , Catherine Nelson-Piercy , Yehuda Shoenfeld , Angela Tincani , Peter M. Villiger , Marianne Wallenius , Michael von Wolff Throughout the last decade, increasing awareness has been raised on issues related to reproduction in rheumatic diseases including basic research to clarify the important role of estrogens in the aetiology and pathophysiology of immune/inflammatory diseases. Sub- or infertility is a heterogeneous condition that can be related to immunological mechanisms, to pregnancy loss, to disease burden, to therapy, and to choices in regard to family size. Progress in reproductive medicine has made it possible for more patients with rheumatic disease to have children. Active disease in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects their children’s birth weight and may have long-term effects on their future health status. Pregnancy complications as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction are still increased in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), however, biomarkers can monitor adverse events, and several new therapies may improve outcom...
Source: Autoimmunity Reviews - Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research