Lupus and Pregnancy

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multifactorial autoimmune disease characterised by its clinical polymorphism and its course in flares. The aim of our study was to determine the effects of pregnancy on lupus and vice versa. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted over a period of 14 years from 2002 to 2015. We included cases of systemic lupus erythematosus associated with pregnancy followed at the obstetrics and gynecology department “C” of the Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca. Results: The mean age of our parturients was 31.4 years. All our patients were known to have lupus and were followed up. Pregnancy was terminated in six (20%) cases. We noted one (3%) case of intrauterine fetal death, four (13%) cases of intrauterine growth retardation, and five (16%) cases of prematurity. Lupus flare during pregnancy occurred in 16 (52%) cases, including one (3%) patient who developed superimposed pre-eclampsia, had a renal relapse in the third trimester requiring an abortion at 32 weeks of gestation with three sessions of hemodialysis, and another patient who developed eclampsia. Conclusion: A better understanding of the aggravating factors and compatible treatments has led to a more widespread authorization of pregnancy.