Pregnancy Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with and without Previous Nephritis

Objective. To compare rates and predictors of pregnancy complications in mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with and without previous nephritis (PN). Methods. Retrospective analysis of 107 pregnancies in 83 women with SLE diagnosed prepregnancy. Results. Mothers with PN had higher rates of preterm delivery (< 37/40, 30% vs 11%, p = 0.029) than those without PM. Women with PN had earlier onset of preeclampsia [median 34.5 weeks (IQR 32-37) vs 37.5 weeks (IQR 35-38, p = 0.047)] that was more frequently complicated by preterm delivery (p = 0.02). Risk factors for preeclampsia in women with PM include 10-13 weeks' gestation diastolic blood pressure > 80 mmHg and proteinuria, and prepregnancy estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 90 ml/min/1.73 m(2). In women with PN, midtrimester uterine-artery-Doppler notching had low negative predictive value (47%). After 39 months followup, eGFR was stable in women with or without PN. Conclusion. In SLE, preterm deliveries are more frequent and preeclampsia occurs earlier in women with PN, but longterm eGFR is preserved. (First Release June 1 2011; J Rheumatol 2011;38:1906-13; doi:10.3899/jrheum.100997)