SLE in pregnancy - maternal risks

MATERNAL RISKS :

• Tendency for disease to relapse during pregnancy

• Increased risk of hypertensive disorders

• Increased risk of VTE especially in women with anti-phospholipid antibodies

• Tendency for renal disease to worsen during pregnancy, especially proteinuria. 
   Long-term prognosis of renal disease is not altered by pregnancy

• Increased risk of placental abruption

• Psychosis may be the presenting symptom

• Chorea is a very rare complication of SLE in pregnancy

• There is no evidence that prednisolone is terratogenic in humans. Hydralazine and methyldopa used over a prolonged period can induce an SLE-like syndrome but are not contra-indicated.