Immunosuppressive therapy before and during pregnancy may improve obstetric outcomes in pregnancy complicated by dermatomyositis with anti-MDA-5 antibody positivity: A case report

Dermatomyositis (DM) is one of the most common autoimmune rheumatic diseases affecting women of childbearing age. Pregnancy may lead to exacerbation of DM, especially of DM with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene (MDA) 5 antibody positivity, leading to a poor obstetric outcome. Here, we report consecutive pregnancies complicated by DM with anti-MDA-5 antibodies. A 32-year-old pregnant woman, gravida 3 para 1, presented with fetal growth restriction. Emergency cesarean section was performed because of non-reassuring fetal status at 28 weeks of gestation. Two days postpartum, the patient's hand eczema had worsened and she was diagnosed with DM with MDA-5 antibody positivity. Immunosuppressive therapy using corticosteroids combined with tacrolimus was immediately started, suppressing the DM symptoms. Eighteen months later, she became pregnant again but was then negative for anti-MDA-5 antibodies while continuing immunosuppressive therapy. During pregnancy, the titer of the antibody gradually increased, peaked in the second trimester and declined to near normal range through the third trimester. A male infant weighing 2418 g was delivered at 38 weeks of gestation. Our case demonstrates that controlling of DM activity using immunosuppressive treatment before and during pregnancy may be beneficial to obstetric outcomes. •Dermatomyositis (DM) is one of the most common autoimmune rheumatic disease affecting women of childbearing age.•Pregnancy may lead to exacerbation of DM.•DM is associated with poor obstetric outcomes.•Immunosuppressive therapy before and during pregnancy may be beneficial to improve obstetric outcomes.