Nilson R. de Jesús

Pregnancy Morbidity in Antiphospholipid Syndrome: What Is the Impact of Treatment?

Women with persistently circulating antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) have a higher incidence of recurrent abortions, fetal losses, pre-eclampsia, and placental insufficiency. Current treatment of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) during pregnancy with heparin and aspirin can act by preventing clot formation and improving live birth rates, but other obstetric morbidities remain high, especially in patients with a history of thrombotic events. In addition to the classical thrombotic placental events, other factors involving inflammation and complement activation seem to play a role in certain complications. In this article, we will review how medications interfere in the pathogenic mechanisms of APS, discuss the impact of current recommended treatment on pregnancy morbidity, and analyze new promising therapies.

Critical review of the current recommendations for the treatment of systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases during pregnancy and lactation

The crucial issue for a better pregnancy outcome in women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases is appropriate planning, with counseling of the ideal timing and treatment adaptation. Drugs used to treat rheumatic diseases may interfere with fertility or increase the risk of miscarriages and congenital abnormalities. MTX use post-conception is clearly linked to abortions as well as major birth defects, so it should be stopped 3months before conception. Leflunomide causes abnormalities in animals even in low doses. Although in humans, it does not seem to be as harmful as MTX, when pregnancy is detected in a patient on leflunomide, cholestyramine is given for washout. Sulfasalazine can be used safely and is an option for those patients who were on MTX or leflunomide. Azathioprine is generally the immunosuppressive of choice in many high-risk pregnancy centers because of the safety profile and its steroid-sparing property. Cyclosporine and tacrolimus can also be used as steroid-sparing agents, but experience is smaller. Although prednisone and prednisolone are inactivated in the placenta, we try to limit the dose to the minimal effective one, to prevent side effects. Antimalarials have been broadly studied and are safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Among biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic agents (bDMARD), the anti-TNFs that have been used for longer are the ones with greater experience. The large monoclonal antibodies do not cross the placenta in the first trimester, and after conception, the decision to continue medication should be taken individually. The experience is larger in women with inflammatory bowel diseases, where anti-TNF is generally maintained at least until 30weeks to reduce fetal exposure. Live vaccines should not be administrated to the infant in the first 6months of life. Pregnancy data for rituximab, abatacept, anakinra, tocilizumab, ustekinumab, belimumab, and tofacitinib are limited and their use in pregnancy cannot currently be recommended.

Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Antiphospholipid Syndrome during Pregnancy: Diagnostic Concepts.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) comprises of a wide spectrum of clinical and obstetric manifestations linked to the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). APS was described in the context of lupus, and later as an isolated syndrome or primary APS. The presence of aPL, especially the lupus anticoagulant test, is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as fetal death, recurrent early miscarriages, pre-eclampsia, and placental insufficiency, but does not seem to influence infertility. High quality scientific data to support these associations, however, are lacking, and controversies arise about the definition of positive aPL (low vs medium-high titers) or even the definition of the adverse events. This review discusses APS classification criteria and the current debate about it.

Successful pregnancy after cyclophosphamide therapy for lupus nephritis

BackgroundSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often requires administration of cyclophosphamide (CYC), especially for severe glomerulonephritis. As this disease usually affects young women in reproductive age, pregnancy, though not recommended may occur. The teratogenic effects of this drug make pregnancy prognosis and fetal survival indeterminate.MethodsWe reviewed retrospectively the medical records of five patients with SLE who received inadvertently CYC during pregnancy and analyzed fetal outcome.ResultsAll patients were exposed at the first trimester. Two patients suffered miscarriages, two went to full term and one presented premature labor.ConclusionIn spite of potential successful pregnancies after CYC exposure, this drug has teratogenic effects and prescription must be avoided during the pregnancy period. At the same time, the occurrence of these reported unplanned pregnancies strengthen the need of improving patients’ education on pregnancy risks during immunosuppressive treatment.

Impacto da nefrite sobre os resultados gestacionais de mulheres com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) nephritis and its complications on the gestational results. METHODS: We evaluated retrospectively 76 pregnancies in 63 SLE patients. RESULTS: Arterial hypertension was detected as a clinical complication in 23 (30%) pregnancies. Twenty-seven (36%) pregnancies occurred in 19 patients with lupus nephritis. We found a significantly increased number of fetal deaths when patients with nephritis were compared with those without nephritis (37% and 12.2% respectively, p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to active nephritis and its diagnosis, there was a worse fetal survival rate when there was an association with antiphospholipid syndrome or one of the antibodies related to it, the presence of arterial hypertension and renal failure (even in early stages).

Hipertrofia Maciça das Mamas na Gravidez: Relato de Caso

Massive hypertrophy of the breast in pregnancy is a rare condition, with few cases reported. In spite of the unknown etiology, it seems to be an exaggerated response of the breast receptors to the pregnancy hormones. Although it can happen in any pregnancy, it presents great capacity to recur in all subsequent pregnancies. The rapid and colossal breast enlargement determines pain and the involvement of the shoulder skeleton and muscles. The excessive enlargement may promote necrosis and ulceration of the skin, leading to breast infection. The authors report one case at the second pregnancy, explaining management during the pregnancy, lactation inhibition with bromocriptine immediately after the delivery and the banding of the elevated breast. They also emphasize the importance of reduction mammoplasty a few months after delivery.