A new study found veterans who have experienced pregnancy and are diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have an increased risk of experiencing adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes, including severe maternal morbidity (SMM). Veterans with SLE and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) also experience high rates of pregnancy loss. A healthy pregnancy with lupus is possible, however lupus elevates the risk for certain complications during pregnancy.
Researchers reviewed data of 29,713 (113 with SLE and 92 with RA) veterans and compared SMM rates among those aged 18-45 with and without SLE or RA and at least one documented Veterans Administration (VA) primary care visit within the year before pregnancy. They found veterans with SLE and RA had various disease-related features and comorbidities that could potentially lead to negative pregnancy and perinatal outcomes including kidney disease, chronic high blood pressure, pulmonary high blood pression, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In the veteran data, 36% with SLE and 30.4% with RA experienced outcomes such as stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriage, compared to 25.2% of healthy veterans. Additionally, nearly 10% of veterans with SLE and 4.3% with RA experienced SMM, compared to 3.2% of healthy veterans.
The study highlights a need for comprehensive maternity care for veterans with SLE and RA within the VA health care system. Learn more about lupus and pregnancy.
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