Table 1.
Patients’ characteristics, disease activities, treatment agents, and pregnancy outcomes
| (n = 74) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Patients’ characteristics | ||
| Mean age at delivery, years | 31.8 ± 4.4 | |
| Mean disease duration, years | 10.0 ± 5.1 | |
| Parity, n (%) | 40 (54.1) | |
| Autoantibody positivity | ||
| Anti-SS-A antibody, n (%) | 42 (56.8) | |
| Antiphospholipid antibodies, n (%) | 29 (39.2) | |
| LAC/anti-cardiolipin/anti-CLβ2GP1 | 23 (31.1)/10 (13.5)/3 (4.1) | |
| Number of positive antibodies (single/double/triple) | 22 (29.7)/6 (8.1)/1 (1.4) | |
| Disease activity parameters | First trimester (at conception) | Third trimester |
| Mean SLEDAI score | 1.8 ± 2.1 | 1.2 ± 1.9 |
| Achievement of LLDAS, n (%) | 40 (59.7) | 35 (58.3) |
| Achievement of LLDAS without a glucocorticoid dose, n (%) | 50 (74.6) | 50 (83.3) |
| C3, mg/dl | 89.8 ± 21.4 | 101.9 ± 23.1 |
| C4, mg/dl | 18.2 ± 6.7 | 17.9 ± 7.2 |
| CH50, IU/ml | 41.0 ± 9.6 | 42.7 ± 10.1 |
| Titer of anti-dsDNA antibody, IU/ml | 10.8 ± 32.6 | 5.8 ± 12.3 |
| Status of treatment agents | ||
| Immunosuppressant use at conception, n (%) | 16 (21.6) | |
| Hydroxychloroquine use during pregnancy, n (%) | 10 (13.5) | |
| Glucocorticoid use | ||
| Use at conception, n (%) | 57 (77.0) | |
| Mean dose at conception, mg/day | 6.5 ± 3.2 | |
| Use during pregnancy, n (%) | 61 (82.4) | |
| Mean dose during pregnancy, mg/day | 8.4 ± 4.8 | |
| Increasing doses used, n (%) | 15 (20.3) | |
| Pregnancy outcomes | (n = 74) | |
| Neonatal loss, n (%) | 15 (20.3) | |
| Spontaneous abortion, n (%) | 8 (10.8) | |
| Stillbirth, n (%) | 2 (2.7) | |
| Induced abortion, n (%) | 5 (6.8) | |
| Live birth, n (%) | 59 (79.7) | |
| Cesarean section, n (%) | 16 (27.1) | |
| Gestational age at delivery, weeks | 37.5 ± 3.0 | |
| Birth weight of newborns, g | 2643.3 ± 665.2 | |
| APOs, n (%) | 35 (50.7) | |
| Spontaneous abortion, n (%) | 8 (10.8) | |
| Stillbirth, n (%) | 2 (2.7) | |
| PB, n (%) | 14 (23.7) | |
| LBW newborns, n (%) | 23 (39.0) | |
| LFD newborns, n (%) | 10 (16.9) | |
| Preterm PROM, n (%) | 7 (11.9) | |
| Preeclampsia, n (%) | 5 (8.6) | |
| NICU administration, n (%) | 17 (28.8) | |
Values are shown as mean ± standard deviation or n (%). LAC lupus anti-coagulant, CLβ2GP1 cardiolipin-beta 2 glycoprotein 1, SLEDAI Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index, LLDAS lupus low disease activity state, APOs adverse pregnancy outcomes, PB preterm birth, LBW low birth weight, LFD light-for-date, PROM premature rupture of the membranes, NICU neonatal intensive care unit