Pregnancy management in prognosis for pregnant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Objective: To study the effects of pregnancy management in prognosis for pregnant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: 217 pregnant patients who were diagnosed with SLE were divided into two groups, the control group and the intervention group. The intervention group was treated with routine treatment and nursing with additional pregnancy management, while the control group was treated with only routine treatment and nursing. Additionally, 195 normal pregnant women in the same period were selected as the healthy control. Regular laboratory tests were conducted for all subjects. Statistical analysis on changes of related disease indexes in each group was also performed. All information of maternal and neonatal outcomes was collected to record SLE activity rate, incidence of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), premature and fetal loss, neonatal weight and incidence of neonatal complications. Results: Increased ANA titer and dsDNA, lower immunoglobulin complement, renal damage, blood system damage, increased SLEDAI score and BILAG score were observed in the control group and the invention group compared with the healthy control. Both the control group and the intervention group showed significant increase in the incidences of PIH, premature delivery, fetal loss and neonatal complications as well as significant decrease in neonatal weight compared with the healthy control. SLE activity rate and incidences of PIH, premature delivery and neonatal complications were significantly decreased while neonatal weight was greatly increased in the intervention group compared with the control group. Results of logistic analysis showed that low immunoglobulin complement, renal damage, increased dsDNA, increased dsDNA and low immunoglobulin complement were independent risk factors for increased SLE activity rate, fetal loss, premature delivery and neonatal complications, respectively. Conclusion: The present study indicates that pregnancy management for pregnant SLE patients can significantly improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.