Therapeutic Alterations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Patients in Pregnancy and Feto-maternal Outcomes; Retrospective Cohort Study

This was a retrospective study of pregnancies in SLE patients. These patients had confirmed SLE diagnosis according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria (5). The diagnosis of SLE was confirmed by consultant rheumatologist. These patients were followed up by consultant rheumatologist and obstetrician. The pregnancies' data were curated using the patients' medical files and notes, both paper-based and electronic, antenatal records, rheumatology and hematology clinic notes in addition to delivery and postpartum records. These data were collected including ID numbers, ages, duration of the SLE, their SLE medications before the pregnancy (names, doses and frequency) and whether the SLE was active or not in the 6 months prior to the pregnancy using systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score. the investigators studied Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), prednisolone and anti-coagulants (low-dose acetylsalicylic acid; 100 mg orally once daily and low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) Enoxaparin 40 mg subcutaneously once daily) as these were the most commonly used medications. The use of these medications in the different pregnancy periods were noted and analyzed (BPG, before pregnancy; DPG, during pregnancy; PG, pregnancy; PP, post-partum). Changes in these medications were also recorded. The data was then analyzed to find out the rates of changes and discontinuation. The postpartum period was also studied similarly. The investigators correlated these alterations to the following feto-maternal outcomes; miscarriage, preterm delivery, intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) and intra-uterine fetal death (IUFD). The 6 months-pre-conceptual SLEDAI score was recorded and investigated in relation to the above mentioned feto-maternal outcomes and postpartum relapse. We divided the pregnancies into 2 groups; Group A, inactive SLE and SLEDAI score of 0-3; Group b, active SLE and SLEDAI score of 4-24.