Abstract

TORO GUTIERREZ, Carlos-Enrique et al. Rheumatic diseases and pregnancy. Rev.Colomb.Reumatol. [online]. 2007, vol.14, n.1, pp.54-65. ISSN 0121-8123.

The association between rheumatic diseases and pregnancy is not uncommon. This is due to the high prevalence of the rheumatic diseases among young women. The effect of pregnancy on any rheumatic disease is unique to each rheumatologic condition; in some cases pregnancy is the trigger for a flare-up, while in other cases the disease tends to go to remission. Independent to the clinical scenario, rheumatic diseases on a pregnant women is always a challenge for the medical team. Treatment for each condition differs from the standard of care, because many drugs may have serious side effects on pregnancy. Besides, obstetric population is commonly excluded from clinical trials, so most recommendations are made by expert opinion and clinical observations. The precise understanding of this situation and the participation of a rheumatologist in the medical team are essential elements to achieve the best outcomes. In this paper we review the most frequents rheumatic diseases and its relation with pregnancies.

Keywords : antiphospholipid syndrome; pregnancy; rheumatoid arthritis; systemic lupus erythematosus; Sjögren's syndrome; scleroderma; reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

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