Management of systemic lupus erythematosus during pregnancy: challenges and solutions

Introduction

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rare, multisystem, chronic autoimmune disease which can vary from mild to life-threatening.¹ It can present with a variety of symptoms including rash, arthritis, anemia, thrombocytopenia, serositis, nephritis, seizures, and/or psychosis.² It typically shows a waxing and waning clinical course, but some patients have continuous disease activity.³

The overall incidence (newly diagnosed cases) in the UK in 1999–2012 was 4.9/100,000 person-years. The incidence of SLE in women is six times higher than in men in the UK (8.34 vs 1.44/100,000 person-years);¹ in premenopausal adults, the female-to-male ratio is 15:1.⁴ There are also marked variations in incidence in different ethnic groups. In the UK, the highest incidence is in Black Caribbean women (31.5/100,000 person-years), and the incidence in Black other (22.3/100,000) and Black African (13.8/100,000) women is also increased. The rates in Pakistani (10.0/100,000), Indian (9.9/100,000), and Chinese women (9.4/100,000) are lower with the lowest incidence in White women (6.7/100,000).¹

The overall prevalence (proportion of cases within a population) in the UK in 1999–2012 was 97/100,000. The rate was 6.8 times higher in women (170/100,000). The prevalence was the highest in Black Caribbean patients (518/100,000) and the lowest in White patients (135/100,000).¹ These are similar to the US: Black vs White 400/100,000 vs 100/100,000; female-to-male ratio is 10–15:1.³

Patients with SLE have increased mortality due to lupus complications or infection in earlier adult life, and myocardial infarction or stroke in later adult life.⁵ The overall survival in patients diagnosed with SLE is 92% after 10 years;⁶ thus, with modern drug therapies and management, many women with SLE of childbearing age are now conceiving. SLE is the commonest autoimmune rheumatic disease encountered in pregnancy; knowledge of pregnancy management in such patients is thus important.

General principles

Complications during pregnancy may be maternal (lupus flares, worsening renal impairment, onset of or worsening hypertension, development of preeclampsia, or venous thromboembolism [VTE]) and/or fetal–neonatal (miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction [IUGR], preterm delivery, neonatal lupus syndrome [NLS]).⁷

As with many medical conditions in pregnancy, the best maternal and fetal–neonatal outcomes are obtained with a cohesive multidisciplinary approach. For patients with SLE, the multidisciplinary team may include a rheumatologist (ideally familiar with pregnancy in patients with SLE), obstetrician, nephrologist, fetal cardiologist, fetal medicine specialist, neonatologist, and/or specialist midwife. The woman’s care should include effective prepregnancy risk assessment and stratification followed by individually tailored prepregnancy counseling. When she conceives, she should book early for pregnancy care with rheumatology and obstetric appointments in the first trimester and an individually tailored antenatal management plan. Early recognition and management of flares and complications (medical and/or obstetric) are important, with involvement of practitioners experienced in managing pregnancy in patients with SLE. Following delivery, an individually tailored postnatal management plan is equally important, including neonatal management where necessary and rheumatology follow-up.

This article examines challenges in the prepregnancy, antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum periods for women with SLE and the medical, obstetric, and midwifery teams who provide their care.

Prepregnancy challenge: stratifying individual patient risk

The prepregnancy consultation should gather detailed information (Table 1) to deduce a woman’s individual risks related to pregnancy. This should include past and current SLE disease activity (including most recent flare and frequency), preexisting organ damage (particularly cardiac, lung, and/or renal), medication history, and a recent serological profile (anti-dsDNA, anti-Ro/La antibodies, antiphospholipid antibodies [aPL], complement). The presence of any additional medical disorders should be elicited, in particular hypertension, diabetes, renal disease, and VTE, along with any additional medications. The past obstetric history should include gestation and outcome of all pregnancies, with particular reference to fetal and/or neonatal losses or complications (miscarriage, stillbirth, small-for-gestational age [SGA], preterm birth, congenital heart block [CHB], and/or the rash of neonatal lupus erythematosus [NLE]) and maternal complications (preeclampsia, antenatal or postpartum flares, VTE). Baseline blood pressure and urinalysis should be performed in clinic. Baseline blood tests (full blood count [FBC], urea and electrolytes [U&E], creatinine, liver function tests [LFTs]) and serological profile, if not recently available, should be requested.⁸ Additional organ-specific tests (cardiac echo, lung function tests) may be helpful in assessing function in affected individuals.

Table 1 Prepregnancy consultation: information gathering Note: Data from Ateka-Barrutia et al.8 Abbreviations: FBC, full blood count; U&E, urea and electrolytes; LFTs, liver function tests.

Based on this information, women with SLE can be stratified into the following groups: 1) current remission, or stable low disease activity, with stable treatment; 2) early-stage or currently active disease; or 3) severe impairment of organ function ± preexisting severe organ damage.⁹

Women in group 3 are at particularly high risk of complications including worsening disease progression and end-organ failure, and there will be serious pregnancy risks for both woman and fetus. Some clinical scenarios may be considered as relative or absolute contraindications to pregnancy (Table 2): these include moderate-to-severe lupus flare (including renal flare) or stroke within the past 6 months, pulmonary hypertension (estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure >50 mmHg, or symptomatic), moderate-to-severe heart failure (left ventricular ejection fraction <40%), severe valvulopathy, severe restrictive lung disease (forced vital capacity <50% predicted or <1 L), chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4–5 (creatinine >2.5–2.8 mg/dL, >220–250 mmol/L; estimated glomerular filtration rate [GFR] <30 μL/min), or uncontrolled hypertension.^7,8,10,11 Women with previous severe early-onset preeclampsia (<28 weeks) or HELLP syndrome (a form of severe preeclampsia: hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count)^12,13 despite therapy with aspirin plus heparin must also be considered an extremely high-risk group.^7,8,10,11

Table 2 Relative contraindications to pregnancy Note: Data from7,8,10,11. Abbreviation: HELLP Haemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelet count.

Prepregnancy challenge: appropriate counseling

Stratification of women into these three groups enables an overall approach to management, with adjustment(s) for individual situations:^8,9

1. SLE in remission, or stable low disease activity: medication should be reviewed and adjusted as necessary; those women should be advised that it is safe to plan a pregnancy.

2. SLE at an early stage following recent diagnosis, or active disease: those women should be encouraged to postpone pregnancy and use effective contraception; medication should be reviewed with prescription of immunosuppressives (ideally hydroxychloroquine [HCQ] and/or azathioprine which will be safe in pregnancy); further review(s) should be done to monitor progress; once SLE condition improves (or ideally, enters remission), the women should be advised that it is safe to plan a pregnancy.

3. Severe impairment of organ function and/or preexisting severe organ damage (Table 2): those women should be advised about the serious risks to health and pregnancy-related risks; pregnancy should be discouraged; alternatives, including adoption and surrogacy (own or donor eggs), should be discussed.

Once the women are stable with inactive disease, discussion of potential medical and obstetric risks, and appropriate planning for pregnancy, can be undertaken. Women should be reassured that while pregnancy with SLE is generally considered a high-risk pregnancy, a tailored management approach with close multidisciplinary surveillance in pregnancy and the puerperium will result in high rates of successful pregnancies.⁸

For a woman with SLE, the medical risks are the possible effect(s) of pregnancy upon her SLE (flares, progressive organ damage). The obstetric risks are due to the effects of SLE upon her pregnancy for her (preeclampsia, VTE) and the fetus (miscarriage, IUGR, preterm birth, stillbirth, NLS); any previous obstetric history will also suggest the likelihood of complications in future pregnancies.

Women with active disease (current, or during 6 months prior to conception), lupus nephritis, or cardiac/lung involvement are at higher risk of flares, and medical and/or obstetric complications during their pregnancy. Women with thrombotic and/or obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) are at an increased risk of VTE and/or pregnancy loss, and may require aspirin and/or low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) during pregnancy. Women with anti-Ro and/or anti-La antibodies should be counseled about the risks of fetal–neonatal CHB and/or NLE (Table 3).^9,14,15

Table 3 Factors affecting pregnancy outcomes in SLE Note: Data from9,14,15. Abbreviation: SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.

It is important to distinguish between aPL and APS. The international consensus statement on APS classification includes laboratory and clinical criteria. A diagnosis of aPL requires two positive tests, >12 weeks apart, of at least one of lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibody (medium/high titer), and anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibody.¹⁶ aPL may be present in up to 40% of patients with SLE, and 8%–10% of the normal population.¹⁷

APS is diagnosed if there are aPL with additional clinical features of thrombotic or obstetric complications. Thrombotic APS involves one or more clinical episodes of arterial, venous, or small-vessel thrombosis. Obstetric APS involves the following: one or more adverse pregnancy outcomes (unexplained fetal death(s) ≥10 weeks of gestation; premature birth(s) of a morphologically normal fetus <34 weeks due to preeclampsia, eclampsia, or placental insufficiency (including birthweight less than tenth centile); or three or more unexplained consecutive spontaneous miscarriages <10 weeks).¹⁶

Soh et al compared pregnancy outcomes between women with aPL and obstetric APS. Both groups received aspirin in pregnancy; women with obstetric APS also received LMWH if they were at high risk of VTE, had previous late pregnancy complications, or previous adverse outcome(s) despite aspirin use. Women with aPL had similar obstetric outcomes to controls, whereas those with obstetric APS had a fourfold higher rate of pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia and a fivefold higher rate of pregnancy loss, with significantly lower birthweight and increased rate of SGA. They thus recommend that women who only have aPL should receive aspirin, but not routine LMWH solely for aPL, and can be reassured and managed as those with normal pregnancy.¹⁷

aPL should also be considered in its context as risk factor for thromboembolism. If there are three other risk factors, the woman may be considered for antenatal LMWH; if there are two other risk factors, LMWH may be considered from 28 weeks; if there is one other risk factor, postnatal LMWH may be considered for 10 days. Any woman receiving antenatal LMWH should continue this for 6 weeks postpartum.¹⁸

Women with thrombotic APS (who will often be on long-term oral anticoagulation) should be offered thromboprophylaxis with higher dose LMWH antenatally and for 6 weeks postpartum, or until returned to oral anticoagulant therapy after delivery.¹⁹ During pregnancy, these women should be managed in collaboration with a hematologist and/or rheumatologist with expertise in this area.¹⁸

Women with obstetric APS with recurrent miscarriage <10 weeks should take aspirin from preconception. If they have previously miscarried while taking aspirin, LMWH should be added from the confirmation of pregnancy. Consideration may be given to discontinuing this either at 12 weeks or at 20 weeks if uterine artery waveform is normal at the anomaly scan.¹⁹

Women with obstetric APS with miscarriage ≥10 weeks of gestation or with premature birth(s) of a morphologically normal fetus <34 weeks due to preeclampsia, eclampsia, or placental insufficiency (including birthweight less than tenth centile) should take aspirin from preconception with LMWH added from confirmation of pregnancy. This should be continued antenatally and for 6 weeks postpartum.¹⁹

Other risk factors have been identified for pregnancies in women with SLE; in many cases, these relate to the factors listed in Table 3, predominantly complications from lupus nephritis. They include clinical factors (hypertension, nonreversible organ damage particularly CKD) and biochemical factors (hypocomplementemia, proteinuria >500 mg/24 hours, thrombocytopenia, GFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m², raised creatinine particularly >2.5–2.8 mg/dL and ≥220–250 μmol/L).^8,10,20–24

In addition to changing or stopping medication that could be harmful in pregnancy, and starting additional medication such as antihypertensives, all women with SLE should be advised to take low-dose aspirin (75 mg) from 12 weeks and throughout pregnancy to reduce their risk of developing preeclampsia.^12,25

Appropriate vitamins and minerals should also be prescribed. Any woman planning to conceive should take 400 μg folic acid daily to reduce the risk of fetal neural tube defects, ideally for 3 months preconception and the first 3 months of pregnancy.²⁵ If she has had methotrexate in the previous 3 months,¹⁰ and diabetes, obesity, or any history (or family history) of of neural tube defects, then she should be prescribed high-dose (5 mg) folic acid.²⁷ All women should also take 10 μg vitamin D daily for bone and teeth health and development. Women at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency should have levels checked as they may require a higher dose.²⁶ Calcium therapy is also recommended. Previously, this was for women on long-term corticosteroids or LMWH, or at high risk of osteoporosis. However, a recent meta-analysis of 13 randomized trials involving >15,000 women showed that at least 1 g of calcium daily in pregnancy (vs placebo) resulted in >50% reduction in the risk of preeclampsia, and 25% reduction in the risk of preterm delivery. As women with SLE are at an increased risk of preeclampsia, we recommend calcium supplementation for all.²⁸

Finally, general preconception advise should be given. Smoking cessation should be recommended, with referral to a smoking cessation program. Alcohol intake should be reduced or stopped; recreational drugs should also be stopped. These measures will improve her health, her chance of conceiving, and the health of her fetus. If a woman is overweight, she should be counseled about the importance of weight loss, ideally to normal body mass index (BMI) range (17.5–24.9 kg/m²) as this will also improve her chance of conceiving, and reduce her risk of miscarriage and other pregnancy complications (including gestational diabetes and VTE). Rubella immunity should be checked, and vaccination with measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine should be offered to nonimmune women (ensuring that they are not currently pregnant, and advising avoidance of pregnancy for a month). Hemoglobinopathy assessment may be undertaken in women at risk of being carriers of sickle cell disease or thalassemia.^8,10

Fertility is generally not affected in patients with SLE, other than those with amenorrhea secondary to severe flares, CKD 3–5 (estimated GFR <60 mL/min), or ovarian failure following cyclophosphamide.¹¹ Women with SLE who have not conceived spontaneously and wish to undergo assisted reproduction techniques, including in vitro fertilization, should be counseled about the increased risk of disease flare and VTE (especially women with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and/or other prothrombotic risk factors). Identification of high-risk patients (Table 3), precycle counseling, and adequate thromboprophylaxis and surveillance are mandatory. In patients with APS, safer approaches may include ovarian stimulation with clomiphene, single embryo transfer, ongoing therapy (appropriate for pregnancy) to avoid disease flare, avoidance of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and use of natural estradiol and/or progestogens administered vaginally.¹¹

For women who are advised to delay pregnancy, appropriate and reliable methods of contraception should be discussed. One study of 212 women at a lupus center showed that 46% had faced some risks of unintended pregnancy, with 23% having unprotected sex “most of the time”.²⁹

Prepregnancy challenge: appropriate medication

The use of medication in pregnancy is often treated with understandable caution by manufacturers and medication administrative bodies, and is usually based on data from retrospective case series, isolated case reports, and animal studies.

The European League Against Rheumatism task force recently reviewed the use of antirheumatic drugs before and during pregnancy, and during lactation, including registry data and a systematic review of the literature. In 2016, they produced four overarching principles, as well as statements (“points to consider”), on the use of these drugs during pregnancy and lactation.³⁰ The EULAR overarching principles include the importance of family planning, the aim to prevent or suppress disease activity in the mother whilst minimizing harm to the fetus/child, the balancing of risks of medication against risks of untreated disease, and the importance of multidisciplinary input (rheumatologist, obstetrician, patient) when making decisions about treatment.³⁰ The British Society for Rheumatology and British Health Professionals in Rheumatology also produced evidence-based guidelines in 2016 on prescribing drugs in pregnancy and breastfeeding.^31,32

Details of medications and safety information are provided in Table 4: anti-inflammatories and analgesics, corticosteroids (non-fluorinated), and immunosuppressants (including anti-malarials).^8,9,31–35

Table 4 Medication safety and use in women with SLE: preconception, in pregnancy, and during lactation Abbreviations: SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; CHB, congenital heart block; MTX, methotrexate; FBC, full blood count; U&E, urea and electrolytes; LFTs, liver function tests.

Medications which are safe throughout pregnancy (all trimesters) and during lactation to maintain remission and/or treat flare are HCQ, azathioprine, cyclosporine, and tacrolimus.^9,30 The aim should be to use steroid-sparing immunosuppressants (such as azathioprine) with ideally no steroids or else the lowest effective maintenance dose (ideally <7.5 mg prednisolone per day).^9,30 Corticosteroids are safe to control active disease symptoms; aspirin and paracetamol are also safe.^9,30 Methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, and cyclophosphamide must be discontinued before pregnancy due to proven teratogenicity, and should not be used during lactation.³⁰

In general, mild flares during pregnancy can be treated with HCQ and/or low-dose oral steroids (also possibly with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs if first or second trimester and previously responsive). Moderate or severe disease may require the use of pulsed intravenous methylprednisolone or high-dose oral steroids, followed by rapid reduction to low-dose maintenance oral steroids in combination with safe immunosuppressants. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) may also be necessary.

More severe cases may require a risk/benefit assessment and prioritization of maternal welfare over fetal concerns, with use of stronger agents such as mycophenolate mofetil or cyclophosphamide, and consideration of preterm delivery. Management of lupus nephritis flares during pregnancy may include pulsed steroid followed by a combination of prednisolone, HCQ, azathioprine, or tacrolimus.

Antihypertensive medication for preexisting or pregnancy-induced hypertension/preeclampsia may include labetalol, methyldopa, and/or nifedipine as safe first-line treatment (singly or in combination) at any stage of conception, pregnancy, or lactation.^12,19 Second-line treatments during pregnancy include hydralazine or doxazosin.¹⁹ Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and/or angiotensin II receptor blockers should be stopped preconception as they are associated with an increased risk of congenital abnormalities.¹² Some women with renal disease who are planning to conceive may, after specialist input, continue ACE inhibitors until very early in pregnancy⁸ (eg, first positive pregnancy test after a missed menstrual period) and then switch to another (first-line) antihypertensive,³² as months without the renal protective effects of ACE inhibitors may be deleterious to their long-term health. ACE inhibitors (eg, enalapril) can be used safely postpartum, including during lactation.¹⁹

Antenatal challenge: maternal lupus flares

Pregnancy is considered a high-risk time in SLE patients, although studies provide conflicting results as to whether flares are more common or of unchanged frequency.⁴⁴ The changes in hormonal profiles in pregnancy induce a shift from Th1 to Th2 lymphocyte dominance; thus, Th2-response autoimmune disorders, such as SLE, are more likely to flare.¹⁰

The LUMINA Study Group in the US looked at outcomes in SLE patients including assessment of cumulative and irreversible damage, irrespective of cause, in 12 organ systems. They found significant postpartum damage accrual. This was due to disease activity levels and the degree of damage prior to pregnancy, total disease duration, and pregnancy duration, rather than due to pregnancy per se. The strongest predictor of postpartum damage accrual was having more active disease prior to pregnancy.⁴⁵

Overall, the risk of flare (antenatal or postpartum) appears to be dependent on disease activity 6–12 months prior to conception. Women with quiescent SLE over this period have less risk of flare during pregnancy, whereas women with active SLE have a high risk of flare.¹⁰ Most flares are nonsevere⁷ with articular, dermatological, and/or mild hematological involvement. These are usually well controlled with short-term introduction or increase of oral steroids. Nonetheless, severe flares with major organ involvement may occur;¹⁰ the Hopkins Lupus Center in the US has suggested that renal, as well as hematological, flares may be more common in pregnancy.⁴⁴

Lupus nephritis at conception confers a higher risk of flare during pregnancy, even in women in remission. One study of 113 pregnancies in 81 women with preexisting lupus nephritis showed a 30% flare rate during pregnancy or postpartum;²³ others suggest up to 60% likelihood.²⁴ In women with previous lupus nephritis, pregnancy does not seem to endanger long-term renal function, although the higher the baseline creatinine, the greater the risk of deterioration.²³ Women with creatinine >2.5–2.8 mg/dL (>220–250 μmol/L) are most likely to suffer postpartum renal function decline.²⁴

In addition to renal complications, women may also suffer from a worsening of hypertension, or onset of new hypertension and/or preeclampsia. The risk of VTE is also increased.

A recent systematic review established the protective effect of HCQ in terms of organ damage, flares, VTE, bone mass loss, and long-term survival in the general SLE population, as well as the potential to prevent disease activity in pregnant women.⁴⁶ Two prospective studies corroborated these findings, suggesting that women who had taken HCQ throughout pregnancy had lower disease activity scores and lower prednisolone doses at the end of pregnancy, whereas those who discontinued HCQ, or did not take it at all, had higher activity scores, more flares, and required higher doses of steroids.^38,47 HCQ may also offer fetal benefits in women who have anti-Ro/La antibodies.³⁹

Distinguishing pregnancy-associated signs and symptoms from those of SLE may be difficult. Involvement of, and assessment by, experienced physicians is important. Fatigue, mild arthralgia, hair loss, dyspnea, headaches, malar and palmar erythema, edema, anemia, and thrombocytopenia represent common ambiguous manifestations.⁷

Baseline bloods (FBC, U&E, creatinine, LFTs, serological profile) and urinalysis with proteinuria quantification should ideally be obtained prepregnancy and again in early pregnancy. These can help to monitor disease status and identify flares. In pregnancy, erythrocyte sedimentation rate is usually raised due to higher fibrinogen production in the liver;^19,48 hence, it is not considered a valid marker of disease activity in pregnancy. Serum C3 and C4 levels also rise in pregnancy due to increased liver production,⁷ so they may remain within normal range even in women with active SLE. Relative variation, rather than absolute levels, of C3 and C4 should be assessed. A fall of ≥25% in serum complement levels during pregnancy may suggest lupus flare.⁴⁹

In patients with permanent significant protein loss due to previous lupus nephritis, proteinuria may increase during pregnancy due to increased renal blood flow, without indicating active nephritis.⁷ This may be more pronounced in patients who stop ACE inhibitors and/or angiotensin II receptor blockers shortly before or early in pregnancy. Up to a doubling of proteinuria from the baseline level in early pregnancy is to be expected.¹⁰ Thromboprophylaxis with LMWH may be required if there is significant proteinuria; expert opinion suggests a threshold of protein:creatinine ratio (PCR) >100–200 mg/mmol or 24-hour collection >1–2g/day during pregnancy.^50,51

It can also be difficult to distinguish between infection and inflammation (flare) in patients with SLE (Table 5).^8,52 This is important as sepsis is a prominent cause of indirect maternal mortality, as well as mortality in nonpregnant SLE patients. If there is any diagnostic doubt, it may be worth using IVIg for first-line treatment as this will dampen inflammation but not worsen infection (unlike high-dose steroids).⁸

Table 5 Differentiating infection from inflammation (flare) in SLE patients Note: Data from Ateka-Burrutia et al,8 and Beca et al.52 Abbreviations: SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; CRP, C-reactive protein; WCC, white cell count.

Antenatal challenge: maternal obstetric complications

A 2008 study from the US involving >13,000 deliveries in women with a diagnosis of SLE showed that SLE patients have a 17- to 20-fold increased risk of maternal mortality (325/100,000 live births, or 0.32% risk in all SLE pregnancies). However, it should be noted that while being higher than the background rate in uncomplicated pregnant women, this is actually several-fold lower than the annual mortality rate in nonpregnant SLE patients (0.8%–3.2%).²⁰

Medical complications such as stroke, pulmonary embolism (PE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), major infections, bleeding, and thrombocytopenia are two to eight times more frequent among women with SLE.²⁰

After controlling for confounding factors such as maternal age, women with SLE still had higher risks of pulmonary hypertension, renal failure, and thrombophilia (thrombophilia predominantly due to APS) (odds ratio [OR] 2.6, 3.7, and 20.9, respectively). The risk of major infections (sepsis, pneumonia) was also increased (OR 3.5–4.3). Hematologic complications including anemia, thrombocytopenia, and need for blood transfusion were increased (OR 12.6, 8.3, and 3.6, respectively), but the risks of antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage were less elevated (OR 1.8 and 1.2). The risk of thrombotic events (DVT, PE, and stroke: OR 7.9, 5.5, and 6.5, respectively) was more than tenfold higher in women with SLE.²⁰

It is important to note that while pregnancy can pose risks to a woman with SLE (which are certainly higher when compared with a low-risk pregnant population), the risks may not be higher than in any other year of that woman’s life, given her underlying diagnosis of SLE.²⁰

Conversely, those with SLE in remission without major organ involvement, or those with cutaneous lupus erythematosus only, are likely to have a normal pregnancy with pregnancy outcomes comparable to those of the healthy population.^7,10

The risk of preeclampsia is noticeably increased in women with SLE. Twenty-three percent or more may develop preeclampsia: two- to fourfold higher than the general population.^8,20,25 This risk may be even greater if they have had preeclampsia before (OR 7.19) or have APS (OR 9.72);⁵³ patients with lupus nephritis, chronic hypertension, and renal impairment and women on high-dose oral steroids are also at particular risk (the latter is likely to be reflective of disease activity, although steroids do increase blood pressure) after adjustment for maternal age.^20,21,54 Other independent risk factors include hypertensive disease during a previous pregnancy, CKD, diabetes (type 1 or type 2), or two or more factors of first pregnancy, age ≥40 years, pregnancy interval ≥10 years, BMI >35 kg/m² at first visit, a family history of preeclampsia, or multiple pregnancy.¹² Women with SLE also have a fourfold increased risk of developing eclampsia compared with the general population, although absolute numbers remain small (0.5% vs 0.09%).²⁰

A meta-analysis showed a 10% risk reduction in preeclampsia, preterm delivery <34 weeks, perinatal death, birthweight less than tenth centile, or serious pregnancy outcomes (maternal death, development of preeclampsia; preterm delivery, SGA fetus, stillbirth, or neonatal death) if women take aspirin from <16 weeks of gestation throughout pregnancy. This is thus recommended for all women with SLE in pregnancy.^12,25

One particular challenge in pregnant patients with SLE is differentiating preeclampsia from lupus nephritis (Table 6).^7,8,24,55 This may be challenging as they have symptoms in common and may also coexist: women with preexisting renal disease are at higher risk of hypertensive complications during pregnancy, including preeclampsia.^7,24

Table 6 Differentiating lupus flare from preeclampsia Note: Data from7,8,24,55. Abbreviations: SLE, Systemic lupus erythematosus; LFTs, liver function tests; PlGF, placental growth factor; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.

A renal biopsy may be indicated if the result would affect management, usually by confirming or refuting a diagnosis (and/or class) of lupus nephritis. Special care should be taken due to higher bleeding risks after biopsy in pregnancy.⁸

New biomarkers, including angiogenic factors such as placental growth factor, may help to diagnose preeclampsia¹³ and may be particularly important in the challenging situation of identifying superimposed preeclampsia in patients, including those with SLE and those who have underlying hypertension and/or renal disease. A recent study showed that, from 20 to 42 weeks of gestation, lower maternal placental growth factor concentrations had high diagnostic accuracy for superimposed preeclampsia requiring delivery within 14 days.⁵⁶

Antenatal challenge: fetal complications

The LUMINA Study Group in the US assessed the impact of SLE on pregnancy outcomes (n=102). Thirty-six percent of women with SLE had a good pregnancy outcome (37/102), and 64% had an adverse outcome (65/102). As a fraction of the whole group, approximately a fifth had miscarriage <20 weeks (n=21), termination of pregnancy (n=20), or preterm birth <34 weeks (n=19), with a tenth suffering stillbirth (n=5). It is, however, important to note that the reason for the termination (whether maternal request, or therapeutic for maternal and/or fetal indications) was not recorded. The authors also suggest that many patients in their study population may have lacked access to specialized obstetric–rheumatology care, which is known to have beneficial effects on pregnancy outcomes.²¹

A 2008 literature review suggested a comparable mean fetal death rate (miscarriage plus stillbirth) of 19.5% in women with SLE, although with a very wide range (4%–43%).⁵⁷ The rate was higher in patients with active SLE at conception (25%–52%);⁵⁷ similarly high rates (53%) were seen in another cohort of lupus nephritis patients.⁵⁸ Patients with inactive SLE at conception had much lower rates of fetal loss (8%–12%), comparable with healthy women.⁵⁷ One paper reported a fourfold increase in the stillbirth rate in SLE patients, although this halved after excluding patients with CNS lupus.⁵⁹ A recent American study of 83 pregnancies in women with SLE showed a pregnancy loss rate of 17%, comparable with the US average of 16.1%.⁶⁰

Ongoing pregnancies in patients with SLE carry increased risks of SGA and/or IUGR (6%–35%).^8,20,21 Monitoring fetal growth with ultrasound scans is thus important in any women with SLE with risk factors for poor pregnancy outcome (Table 3).

The rate of preterm labor and delivery (<37 weeks) is also increased to 21%–36% in pregnancies in women with SLE (higher in women with more active or complicated disease), compared with 12% national average.^20,21,58,60 However, the figures for spontaneous labor, induced labor, and prelabor cesarean section within this preterm group were not available. In one study of pregnancies in SLE patients, mean pregnancy duration was 29.6 weeks.⁴⁵ Renal involvement conveys a significant increase in the rate of lower mean birthweight babies and in preterm delivery compared with SLE patients without renal involvement.^54,61

Antenatal/postnatal challenge: neonatal lupus

NLS is a rare complication affecting children born to mothers with anti-Ro/La antibodies, found in 25%–40% (anti-Ro) and 10%–15% (anti-La) women with SLE⁶² as well as other autoimmune diseases (eg, Sjögren’s syndrome). These IgG antibodies are actively transported across the placenta from 16 to 30 weeks of gestation.⁷ There are two main forms of NLS: NLE and CHB. Rarer forms include hepatic and hematologic. Forms may coexist: for example, a child with CHB may also have skin manifestations. Cutaneous, hepatic, and hematologic symptoms are transient; CHB is permanent.⁶³

NLE occurs in 5% of children born to women with anti-Ro/La antibodies. It generally presents within the first 2 weeks of life as erythematous geographical lesions in light-exposed areas, resembling those seen in subacute cutaneous lupus. The rash usually disappears within 6 months as the maternal antibodies are cleared, and does not leave residual scarring.^63,64

The US Research Registry for Neonatal Lupus has assessed neonatal outcomes in 58 women with 77 pregnancies following a child with NLE. Forty-nine percent of these pregnancies were affected with NLS, and 51% were unaffected. Of the total 77 pregnancies, 30% (n=23) had NLE, 18% (14) had CHB ± NLE, and 1% (one) had hematologic/hepatic neonatal lupus. Limiting assessment to the first child born during prospective follow-up after a child with NLE (to remove possible bias due to multiple pregnancies in the same families) showed 36% of pregnancies to be affected in total: 23% with NLE and 13% with CHB ± NLE. Sixty-four percent of pregnancies were unaffected. There were no significant differences in maternal risk factors (age, race/ethnicity, anti-La status, use of steroids, breastfeeding) or in fetal sex for having a subsequent child with NLS.⁶⁴

CHB is a more serious form of NLS, affecting 2% of newborns of anti-Ro-positive women with known connective tissue diseases^65,66 – it remains a very rare condition in the general population, affecting 1:20,000 pregnancies.⁶⁷ If an anti-Ro/La-positive woman has had a baby with CHB, then the risk to subsequent pregnancies increases to 18%. The actual incidence may be higher as incomplete forms of CHB have been described, including first-degree heart block that can progress during childhood. Most children with CHB will need a permanent pacemaker (47%–64% in first year^67,68 and 75% by 10 years),⁶⁸ and up to 20% may die in the perinatal period.^66,68 Neonatal CHB may also be the first presentation of otherwise asymptomatic connective tissue disease in up to 50% of women: all mothers of infants with CHB are tested for anti-Ro/La antibodies.⁶⁹

A national review of antenatally diagnosed CHB in 87 pregnancies over 27 years found no cases detected at <18 weeks of gestation. Eighty-two percent were detected <30 weeks, with the majority at 20–24 weeks. Subanalysis of more recent data (1988–1997) showed that 90% were detected <30 weeks. In many cases, this detection followed an initially normal fetal heart rate.⁷⁰ A French registry of 254 CHB cases (1976–2014) showed that 94.4% were detected antenatally, with a median detection of 23 weeks (range 16–39 weeks).⁶⁸

Ultrasound assessment of the fetal heart by a fetal medicine or fetal cardiology specialist should thus be performed at 18–20 weeks of pregnancy in all women with anti-Ro/La antibodies. This enables assessment of atrial and ventricular rates, cardiac anatomy and function, and the presence or absence of hydrops.⁶⁹ Many units rescan at 26–28 weeks and/or at interim visits.²²

The fetal echo provides parental reassurance, but in terms of detection of heart block, it is more important for the fetal heart rate to be auscultated and recorded every 1–2 weeks at an antenatal clinic visit, with urgent referral to a fetal medicine unit or fetal cardiology service if a low fetal heart rate (<110 bpm) is detected. There is an increased risk of hydrops and death if the rate is <55 bpm.⁷¹

If evidence of incomplete heart block, myocarditis, ascites, or hydrops is identified, then therapy with fetal steroids (dexamethasone or betamethasone) could be considered.^22,68 Three large studies found no benefit on feto-neonatal mortality;⁶⁸ one study of historical cases suggested an improvement in 1-year survival with steroid treatment.⁷² Given the potential maternal complications with steroid usage, this treatment is not routinely recommended.⁶⁸ Irrespective, the development of hydrops in a fetus with CHB is an extremely poor prognostic sign, with a mortality rate of 83%–100%.^68,72 The presence of endocardial fibroelastosis and/or a fetal heart rate of <55 bpm are also poor prognostic factors.⁶⁹

It was previously thought that IVIg might help to reduce the rate of recurrent CHB, but two clinical trials have failed to show this.^73,74 However, a recent case–control study suggested a protective effect of HCQ on the development of cardiac manifestations in children born to anti-Ro/La-positive mothers. Retrospective data from three large international registers were assessed to identify women with anti-Ro/La antibodies who had a further pregnancy after a child with CHB. The recurrence rate was 7.5% in the group who took HCQ compared with 21.2% in the group who did not.³⁹ Given the good safety profile and minimal side effects of HCQ in pregnancy, we recommend starting any women with anti-Ro/La-positive antibodies on HCQ (400 mg daily) either prepregnancy or as soon as possible <16 weeks of gestation, and continuing throughout pregnancy.²² They should still receive antenatal fetal assessment as outlined earlier.

Antenatal challenge: management of pregnancy

All women with SLE who are pregnant should be seen by, and have pregnancy care coordinated by, an obstetrician. They should also see a rheumatologist familiar with SLE in pregnancy at least once. Women should have routine pregnancy booking. In addition to booking blood tests (which include a FBC), baseline tests of renal and hepatic function, serological status (if unknown), and disease activity (C-reactive protein, anti-ds DNA, antibodies, complement) should be obtained. Women with previous lupus nephritis, other risk factors for poor pregnancy outcome (Table 3), or proteinuria on dipstick testing should also have baseline urinary protein quantified by PCR or 24-hour collection.⁸

Women should be seen in the first trimester by both obstetrician and rheumatologist to ascertain disease status and pregnancy risk. The frequency of subsequent antenatal and/or rheumatology clinic visits will depend on these risks, plus any factors in the obstetric history and the development of any complications in the current pregnancy. As a guide, women should be reviewed every 4 weeks from 16 to 28 weeks, every 2 weeks from 28 to 34 weeks, and every week from 34 weeks.⁸ Each visit should document the presence or absence of flare or preeclampsia symptoms, plus blood pressure, dipstick urinalysis, symphysial-fundal height, and fetal heart rate.

All women with SLE should take low-dose aspirin (75 mg) from 12 weeks of pregnancy to reduce their risk of preeclampsia.^12,25 VTE risk should also be assessed at their first visit and throughout pregnancy; those at high risk should receive thromboprophylaxis with LMWH and be educated about DVT/PE symptoms.¹⁸ Antenatal obstetric anesthetic review should be arranged for women taking therapeutic or high-dose (twice daily) LMWH during pregnancy to discuss analgesia options and document an anesthetic plan for labor and delivery. Any patients with reduced respiratory function or cardiorespiratory compromise should also have an antenatal obstetric anesthetic review.

Women who have mild, stable disease with no other SLE risk factors for a more complicated pregnancy (Table 3) may be suitable for ongoing management by obstetricians and midwives, with further medical/rheumatological input if complications ensue.⁸

Women with active disease, or those at high risk of complications, should have regular input from both obstetrician and rheumatologist, plus other specialists (eg, nephrologist, cardiologist) depending on disease manifestations. Ideally, they should be managed in a multidisciplinary obstetric–rheumatology clinic throughout pregnancy to minimize appointments and provide continuity of, and comprehensive, care.

Women with previous hypertension, preeclampsia, and/or renal disease should have more frequent blood pressure and urinalysis checks than described earlier.⁸ These additional reviews could be with a general practitioner/family physician, or midwife, with referral if any concerns. Proteinuria on dipstick analysis would necessitate confirmation and quantification by either PCR or 24-hour collection.

Women on steroids, or those with previous gestational diabetes, should have screening for gestational diabetes,⁸ ideally at 16 weeks, and if negative, again at 26–28 weeks. Depending on local policy, this may be by random blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), oral glucose tolerance test, or fingerprick blood sugar monitoring.

Women with severe or active SLE should have blood tests (as per baseline, described earlier) repeated every 4–8 weeks during pregnancy, with interim testing if there are any new-onset symptoms suggestive of flare or preeclampsia.⁸

Women should be offered routine pregnancy screening and scans, usually a first trimester scan and trisomy screen (11–13 weeks) and a fetal anomaly scan (18–22 weeks). Uterine artery Doppler measurements at the latter may be helpful to stratify risk: a normal result has a high negative predictive value for preeclampsia and IUGR, while an abnormal result suggests a higher risk of these conditions.⁷⁵

Ultrasound scans to assess fetal growth and well-being (amniotic fluid assessment, Doppler measurements of fetal blood flow) should be performed in patients with active disease or previous complex obstetric histories: a standard approach might be a late second trimester (26–28 weeks) and mid-third trimester (34–36 weeks) scan. If there are particular concerns, then scans may be performed every 2–4 weeks, with weekly (or more frequent) assessment of amniotic fluid and Dopplers, and liaison with a fetal medicine consultant if there are signs of fetal compromise. Such scans may also be requested for clinical concerns about fetal growth or well-being (reduced symphysial-fundal height, or reduced fetal movements) or in the event of a complication including lupus flare or preeclampsia.

Women with anti-Ro/La antibodies should have additional monitoring due to the risk of fetal CHB.⁷⁶ They should be referred for fetal echocardiography at 18–20 weeks and again at 26–28 weeks. The fetal heart should be auscultated every 1–2 weeks, with the rate documented. Any fetal heart rate abnormality, particularly a slow heart rate, should trigger an urgent referral to a tertiary center. Routine antenatal clinic appointment frequency can resume after 28 weeks as the chance of developing CHB is markedly reduced in the third trimester;⁶⁸ the fetal heart rate should still be documented.

Finally, it should be remembered that 30%–50% of pregnancies are unplanned. Women with SLE, therefore, may conceive during teratogenic drug therapy. Some patients may choose termination of pregnancy; others will wish to continue. For the latter, ultrasound confirmation of gestational age, and determination of exact exposure dates, is extremely important to enable individual risk assessment and accurate counseling. Detailed ultrasound scans by fetal medicine experts to screen for major structural abnormalities can be undertaken at 12 and 20 weeks of gestation (as per standard UK screening), with the option of an “early” anomaly scan at 16 weeks. Invasive testing (chorionic villous sampling or amniocentesis) is not indicated solely for teratogenic drug exposure but would be offered to patients with high-risk trisomy screening, or with fetal structural abnormalities.³⁰

Intrapartum challenge: managing labor

Women with SLE have an increased risk of preterm delivery. This may be spontaneous or may be iatrogenic due to maternal and/or fetal concerns (severe lupus flare, preeclampsia, IUGR). A woman in preterm labor with a fetus in a cephalic or breech presentation should anticipate a spontaneous vaginal delivery, subject to any intrapartum complications; a women being delivered preterm for maternal and/or fetal concerns may require a cesarean section.

If the fetus is in 24⁺⁰–34⁺⁶ weeks of gestation, two maternal intramuscular steroid injections (betamethasone or dexamethasone) should be given to aid fetal lung maturation, ideally >24 hours but <7 days before delivery.⁷⁷ This is independent of any maternal steroids as prednisolone only reaches the fetus in minimal quantities (<10% maternal dose) due to metabolism by the placenta.³³ If the gestational age is <32 weeks, there is evidence that magnesium sulfate may have fetal neuroprotective benefits (it may also be given to women with severe preeclampsia to prevent eclampsia).⁷⁸

A woman with SLE in spontaneous labor at term with a fetus in a cephalic presentation should aim for a spontaneous vaginal delivery. Studies have shown that women with SLE are more likely to be delivered by cesarean section (>33%, OR 1.7): this may be for many reasons, and at a variety of gestations.^20,21 Cesarean section is an additional risk factor for VTE (OR 2–6.7 compared with vaginal birth),¹⁸ carries risks of bleeding and infection, and has implications for future pregnancies. We would thus recommend that Cesarean sections should only be performed for obstetric indications (maternal and/or fetal concerns).

It may be necessary to adjust maternal medication for labor. If a woman is taking long-term oral steroids, she will require intravenous hydrocortisone to cover the physiological stress of labor and delivery. Ideal regimes are uncertain: many practitioners prescribe 50–100 mg intravenous hydrocortisone 8 hourly (eg, 50 mg tds if taking 7.5 to <20 mg prednisolone; 100 mg tds if taking ≥20 mg prednisolone).

Women receiving standard prophylactic (once daily) doses of LMWH should discontinue it at the onset of spontaneous labor, or the night before induced labor or elective cesarean section. They will be able to have regional anesthesia (epidural or spinal) 12 hours after the last LMWH dose. Women receiving high-dose prophylactic or therapeutic (twice-daily) LMWH should discontinue it at the onset of spontaneous labor or 24 hours before induced labor or elective cesarean section. They will be able to have regional anesthesia 24 hours after the last LMWH dose. Alternative analgesia options, such as a patient-controlled analgesia opiate pump, are available for patients requesting additional pain relief who are not within a safe post-LMWH time frame for regional anesthesia. LMWH can be recommenced 4 hours after a spinal injection or after an epidural catheter has been removed, provided the woman is hemodynamically stable. The epidural catheter should be removed >12 hours after the most recent LMWH injection.¹⁸

Postpartum challenge: flare, other risks, and follow-up

The puerperium (weeks 0–6 postpartum) was thought to be a period of high risk of lupus flares,¹⁰ although some groups have found that disease activity decreases after pregnancy.⁴⁵ Of seven prospective comparative studies assessing pregnancy and postpartum flares, three showed an increased risk of flares; four did not.⁷⁹ Women taking HCQ, azathioprine, and/or steroids for immunosuppression in pregnancy should be reassured that these medications are safe for breastfeeding, and advised to continue.

If a woman is taking long-term oral steroids, she should have received intravenous hydrocortisone to cover the physiological stress of labor and delivery. Postpartum, doubling her usual dose of prednisolone for 2–3 days would be considered, particularly if she was unwell or had a prolonged labor or complicated delivery, and then her usual dose would be continued.

A member of the multidisciplinary lupus team should review the woman on the ward prior to her discharge, with a follow-up outpatient appointment for 4–6 weeks postpartum, depending on antenatal or intrapartum lupus complications and risk factors for lupus complications. This review is to detect and manage any postpartum lupus complications, and ensure a smooth return to rheumatology outpatient services for ongoing care. A thorough history, physical examination, blood pressure, and urinalysis should be undertaken, with assessment of FBC, U&E, creatinine, LFTs, and disease activity markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, anti-dsDNA, and complement).

The woman’s obstetric history should also be considered. A recent study of 3,977 parous women with SLE over a 38-year period in Sweden showed that those with adverse pregnancy outcomes related to maternal–placental syndrome (hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, SGA, placental abruption, and/or stillbirth) have an increased risk (hazard ratio 1.64) and accelerated development of cardiovascular events (coronary artery disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and/or death from cardiovascular causes) in later life when compared with women who had uncomplicated pregnancies. The risk was doubled in women with SLE and maternal–placental syndrome who delivered a baby at <34 weeks of gestation.⁸⁰

The puerperium is also a period of increased VTE risk. All women who received antenatal LMWH should continue this for 6 weeks postpartum, in a once-daily dosage (recent weight). All women should undergo a postpartum VTE risk assessment: many may require a 10-day course for obstetric or other reasons (risk factors include age, BMI, parity, aPL, cesarean section, postpartum hemorrhage); the threshold for postpartum prophylaxis is lower than antenatal as it is a time of greater risk.¹⁸ Women with previous or recent VTE may require long-term anticoagulation: LMWH can be switched to warfarin when the risk of hemorrhage has reduced, usually at days 5–7 postpartum, with continuation of LMWH until the international normalized ratio reaches therapeutic range. Some women may be accustomed to LMWH use during pregnancy and may prefer to continue postpartum, even for an extended course, rather than switching to warfarin with its monitoring blood tests.

Postpartum challenge: contraception

In addition to rheumatology and/or obstetric medicine follow-up appointments, the woman should also attend her routine 6-week mother-and-baby check at her general practitioner clinic. This includes clinical review, contraception discussion, cervical smear appointment (if overdue), and 6-week baby check.

Postpartum counseling and provision of contraception is particularly important in patients with SLE (and all patients with chronic medical conditions) as planned pregnancy is associated with fewer complications and higher pregnancy success rates.¹⁰

Barrier methods (condom, female condom, diaphragm, cap, sponge) are convenient and readily available but have a 15%–32% failure rate with typical use. Condoms and female condoms also protect against sexually transmitted infections.⁸¹

Hormonal methods can be divided into those containing estrogen and progestogen (combined oral contraceptive pill [COCP], contraceptive patch, and contraceptive ring), and progestogen-only methods (progestogen-only pill, implant, Depo-Provera injection, and Mirena intrauterine system [IUS]).

Estrogen-containing contraceptives increase a woman’s VTE risk, so they are contraindicated in women with aPL or APS, moderate–severe active SLE (including lupus nephritis), hypertension, smoking, obesity, or previous VTE.⁸² Women with well-defined SLE with stable and/or low-active disease may be suitable to use the COCP if they wish:⁸² a systematic review of 14 studies, including two randomized controlled trials, showed that combined oral contraceptive use does not lead to increased disease flares or worsening disease activity in women with inactive or stable SLE.^83,84

Depo-Provera, progestogen subdermal implants, and the IUS are long-acting reversible contraception methods which are reliable (failure rate>1%), less reliant on patient compliance, and last for up to 3 months, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively. The IUS also reduces menstrual blood loss. Progestogen-only pills are effective if taken correctly but have a narrower compliance window than COCPs. Progestogen-only methods are safe for women in whom estrogens are contraindicated, including those with VTE and hypertension, as they do not increase VTE risk. They may cause a small, reversible reduction in bone density.^81,82,85

The intrauterine contraceptive device, or copper-containing coil, is also an extremely effective method of contraception, and does not carry additional VTE risks. It can increase menstrual bleeding, so it may not be suitable for women on long-term warfarin or LMWH.^81,86

Conclusion

Women with SLE, particularly those with associated lupus nephritis or APS, are at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Care should be coordinated by obstetricians, midwives, and rheumatologists with expertise in the care of high-risk pregnancies. Maintaining disease remission and treating any flares rapidly is vital. All clinicians involved in the management of SLE pregnancies should feel comfortable counseling women regarding medication use in pregnancy and in particular advise women not to discontinue antirheumatic drugs compatible with pregnancy. Evidence-based guidelines from the UK and Europe are now available.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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