Maternal and foetal outcome of pregnancy in women with connective tissue diseases

Katarzyna Klimaszyk; Ewa  Wender-Ożegowska; Małgorzata Kędzia

doi:10.20883/medical.e525

Authors

Katarzyna Klimaszyk Department of Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Gynecologic Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9505-6140
Ewa Wender-Ożegowska Division of Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Gynecologic Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5492-8651
Małgorzata Kędzia Division of Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Gynecologic Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8115-2019

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20883/medical.e525

Keywords:

systemic connective tissue diseases, perinatal outcomes, pregnancy complications

Abstract

Introduction. The majority of patients diagnosed with systemic connective tissue diseases are women of childbearing age.

Aim. The analysis of obstetric results and exacerbation rates in the pregnancies involving systemic connective tissue diseases.

Material and Methods. We retrospectively reviewed perinatal outcomes of fourteen women with systemic connective tissue diseases hospitalised in the Department of Reproduction in the period between September 2019 and July 2021.

Results. Median duration of a pregnancy was 37 weeks. One pregnancy ended in a stillbirth in week 28. Of the 13 live births, preterm delivery occurred in 5 cases. Of the 13 live-birth neonates, preterm delivery occurred in five cases. The Caesarean section rate was 57.1% and vaginal delivery rate was 42.9%. The mean birth weight of the live neonates was 2787g (SD 892), and the median Apgar score in the 1^st and the 3^rd minute was 10.

In total, all 4 patients with the active disease at the time of conception and 1 who did not decide to undergo the recommended mitral valve surgery prior to pregnancy experienced symptoms indicating a disease flare-up in the course of pregnancy. None of the patients who planned their pregnancy experienced an exacerbation of the disease.

Conclusions. All patients diagnosed with systemic connective tissue diseases should receive multidisciplinary care prior to conception, during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Furthermore, they should be monitored by a team of specialists, due to the risk of a disease exacerbation and high rates of maternal and foetal complications resulting from the underlying condition.

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Author Biographies

Ewa Wender-Ożegowska, Division of Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Gynecologic Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland

Head of Division of Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Gynecologic Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland

Małgorzata Kędzia, Division of Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Gynecologic Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland

Deputy head of Division of Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Gynecologic Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland

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