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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2013 Jun;27(3):10.1016/j.berh.2013.07.005. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2013.07.005

Table 3. Ante-natal monitoring in SLE pregnancy.

Clinical review Investigations Specific Monitoring

  • Rheumatologist: 4-6 weekly, more frequent if activedisease or flare

  • Obstetrician: Monthly till week 20, then 2 weekly till week 28, and weekly thereafter

  • Each visit: Blood count, serum uric acid, urea, creatinine, electrolyte levels, liverfunction tests, urinalysis, spot urine protein/creatinine ratio, complement levels and dsDNAantibodies

  • Ultrasound: early pregnancy forgestational dating, between week 16-20 to screen for fetal anomalies, 4 weekly thereafter to monitor growth

  • Fetal surveillance tests (FST): weekly form week 26

  • Poitive anti-Ro antibodies: Fetal echocardiography, weekly from week 16-26 and biweekly thereafter, continuing till delivery

  • Pre-eclampsia: Uterine artery Doppler study (week 20 and 4 weekly thereafter), Fetal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry (weekly from week 26 onwards)

  • IUGR: Increase frequency of growth monitoring by ultrasound and FST