Can I get pregnant with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)? Are the babies born after pregnancy healthy? This is a very concerning issue for many young women with lupus.
In the past, for female patients with lupus, doctors generally did not advocate pregnancy and having children. Because after pregnancy, 50% of patients will aggravate their condition. Even if they become pregnant during the stable period, 10%-30% of patients will aggravate their condition during pregnancy or after delivery.
However, with the development of science and technology and the advancement of medicine, taking into account the needs of humanities, ethics, etc., female patients with lupus can consider pregnancy when their condition is stable for more than half a year and there is no important organ damage.
▶ How to prepare for pregnancy for patients with
SLE patients have fertility like healthy women. plan pregnant people should first communicate with the rheumatologist, to judge whether the condition has reached a stable level, whether the immunosuppressant can be adjusted to avoid using drugs with teratogenic effects.
If you cannot get pregnant for the time being, you must do a good job of contraception; be patient and do not rush to achieve success. Because, when the condition is not stable, will aggravate the condition or cause fetal death or intrauterine, prenatal hypersy, fetal growth delay, fetal malformation, etc.
▶ When is a good time for pregnancy?
According to the 2015 "Perionatal Management Suggestions for Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in China", patients with have not used immunosuppressants such as methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, leflunomide, , mycophenolic acid ester, triptrosis and other immunosuppressants, SLE condition is stable for more than half a year, the dose of prednisone is <15mg/d,>
It should be noted that SLE patients need to go to the rheumatology department to check the complete set of lupus before pregnancy, especially blood routine , urine routine, ACL, and ANAS. Because serum antiphospholipid antibodies are positive or secondary antiphospholipid syndrome can also affect the fertility of patients with lupus.
Pre-pregnancy examination shall be jointly formulated by rheumatologists and obstetricians. The frequency of follow-up in the rheumatology department is once every 4 weeks before 28 weeks of pregnancy and once every 2 weeks from week 28; or the follow-up interval is shortened according to the possibility of recurrence.
Expert in this issue: Liu Weichao
Attendant physician of the Rheumatology Center of Yunnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Master of Rheumatology from the School of Clinical Medicine, Yunnan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and member of the Professional Committee of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Rheumatology of Yunnan Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine. From September 2015 to February 2016, he went to Shanghai Renji Hospital to study in the Department of Rheumatism and Immunology, and was awarded the title of "Excellent Continuous Medicine". From April to September 2021, I went to Beijing Hospital for further study. During his work, he presided over 1 Yunnan Natural Foundation project, 3 department-level scientific research projects, participated in 2 national projects and 4 provincial and ministerial projects, published nearly 20 academic papers, won 3 outstanding paper awards, and participated in the compilation of 5 monographs on rheumatism.
is good at: Combined with traditional Chinese and Western medicine to treat rheumatoid arthritis, gout, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus , Sjogren's syndrome and other rheumatism.
