Pregnancy Does Not Significantly Affect Lupus Nephritis

January 17, 2005

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jan 13 - Among women with systemic lupus

erythematosus (SLE) and renal disease, pregnancy does not appear to affect

renal function or disease activity, according to a report in the December

issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism.

In a nested case-control study, Dr. Murray B. Urowitz and colleagues from

Toronto Western Hospital, Ontario examined the effects of pregnancy on lupus

nephritis in 53 women. Data from 74 pregnancies in these subjects were

matched to data from 74 controls with SLE who were not pregnant. Both groups

had evidence of renal disease.

The researchers defined renal activity as the presence of active urine

sediment or proteinuria. Renal deterioration was defined as increases in the

serum creatinine level greater than 20% above baseline value, or an increase

to greater than 120 mmoles/liter.

" Renal disease became active during the study period in 33 pregnancies

(44.6%) and 31 controls (41.9%), " the researchers report. Serial serum

creatinine levels indicated no renal deterioration in 82.7% study patients

and (76.0%) of controls.

" During the study, a similar number of pregnant patients and controls took

steroids, while a significantly higher number of controls took

immunosuppressive and antimalarial drugs, " the investigators note.

" In our comparison of pregnant and nonpregnant patients with lupus

nephritis, we found no significant difference in the exacerbation of renal

activity nor did we find any difference in the number of cases of renal

deterioration seen over an interval equivalent to a prenatal, pregnancy, and

postpartum period, " Dr. Urowitz's group concludes.

Arthritis Rheum 2004;50:3941-3946.

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