The aim of this prospective study was to determine clinical factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Fifty-six pregnancies from 46 women with SLE were enrolled. Risk factors for pregnancy loss, premature delivery, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), and light-for-date neonate (LFD), were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed a history of two or more pregnancy losses before 10 gestational weeks (GW) (OR 11.5, 95%CI 1.72-76.8) as a risk factor for pregnancy loss; low levels of blood complements (OR 7.55, 95%CI 1.10-51.9) and antiphospholipid syndrome (OR 26.5, 95%CI 3.17-219) as risk factors for premature delivery before 37 GW; SLEDAI score at conception (OR 1.68, 95%CI 1.05-2.68) and positive tests for two or more antiphospholipid antibodies (OR 6.89, 95%CI 1.13-41.9) as risk factors for premature delivery before 34 GW; prednisolone therapy >14mg/day (OR 7.55, 95%CI 1.10-51.9) as a risk factor for HDP; and low dose aspirin therapy (OR 0.21, 95%CI 0.05-0.97) decreased the risk for LFD neonate. These results have important implications for clinicians managing SLE complicated pregnancy.

Activation of IFN-γ(+) Tc and Treg cells in the decidua might be associated with the pathophysiology underlying MN.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the presence of history of biochemical pregnancy (BP) was associated with clinical characteristics and the subsequent pregnancy outcome among women with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). One-hundred and seventy-five RSA women with two or more clinical pregnancy losses were enrolled. The clinical characteristics were compared between 164 women with history of 0-1 BP (Group A) and 11 women with two or more BP (Group B). The frequency of previous pregnancy loss and history of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in Group B was higher than that in Group A; while frequency of secondary RSA in Group B was lower than Group A. The subsequent pregnancy outcome was assessed prospectively; and live-birth rate in Group A (72.9%) was higher (p < 0.05) than that in Group B (41.7%). The incidence of reproductive failure (58.3%, p < 0.05) and spontaneous abortion with normal chromosome (25.0%, p = 0.050) in Group B was higher than those (27.1 and 5.9%, respectively) in Group A. RSA women with two or more BP had higher risk of reproductive failure and spontaneous abortion with normal chromosome together with lower chance of live-birth. The results of the present study involve important information and are helpful for clinical practitioners.

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PurposeThis study aimed to assess the efficacy of high‐dose i.v. immunoglobulin (HIVIg) therapy in pregnant women with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus with a history of pregnancy failure, despite receiving low‐dose aspirin plus unfractionated heparin therapy, of which condition being designated as “aspirin–heparin‐resistant APS” (AHRAPS).MethodsThe HIVIg therapy (20 g/d, 5 days) was performed for the pregnancies of five women with AHRAPS.ResultsFive of the eight pregnancies ended in live births. The gestational ages of delivery in four of the five pregnancies were extended, compared with previous pregnancies. The HIVIg therapy was considered to be successful for these four pregnancies. Excluding one pregnancy that ended in miscarriage with an abnormal chromosome karyotype of the villi, the HIVIg therapy was considered to be successful in four (57.1%) of the seven pregnancies of the women with AHRAPS. Although all the live newborns were prematurely delivered, no adverse effect of the HIVIg therapy was observed.ConclusionsThe HIVIg therapy might be beneficial as an immune modifier for pregnant women with AHRAPS. However, the precise indication of which women with AHRAPS who should receive HIVIg therapy remains unknown.

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