Research Article

Fetal and Neonatal Outcomes of Maternal Rheumatic Diseases in a Tertiary Care Centre of Lahore, Pakistan

Saqib Aslam, Faiza Yasin, Saadat Ullah, Muhammad Haroon, Zahid Anwar, Rafia Gul

Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences · Vol. 17, No. 4 · Published April 4, 2023 · DOI: 10.53350/pjmhs2023174179

iD ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0605-7089 · View All Publications by Dr. Rafia Gul

In Brief

Women with rheumatic diseases such as lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis can have more complicated pregnancies, and the mother’s antibodies can cross the placenta and affect the baby. This study followed 32 pregnant women with rheumatic disorders to see how their pregnancies and newborn babies did.

Key Points

• A descriptive longitudinal study of 32 pregnant women with rheumatic disorders, enrolled by consecutive sampling at Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore, from January to December 2021.
• Half of the women had SLE and a quarter had rheumatoid arthritis, and half tested positive for anti-dsDNA antibodies.
• Problems were common: about 9% of pregnancies had growth restriction, 28% fetal distress, 34% low birth weight and 31% preterm birth, and 31% of babies were admitted to the NICU. Infant deaths or stillbirths occurred in 12.5%.
• Preterm birth, fetal distress and low birth weight were significantly associated with SLE.

Pregnancy OutcomeRheumatic Disease OutcomeFetusNeonateSLE

Published in the Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, Vol. 17, No. 4 (April 2023). PDF shared by the authors.