Fetal and maternal morbidity in pregnant patients with Lupus: a 10-year US nationwide analysis

ObjectiveTo evaluate and quantify the indicators of fetal and maternal morbidity in deliveries for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with deliveries in patients without SLE.MethodsWe used retrospective data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify all delivery related hospital admissions of patients with and without SLE from 2008 to 2017 using ICD-9/10 codes. Fetal morbidity indicators included pre-term delivery and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). 21 indicators of severe maternal morbidity were identified using standard Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definitions. Descriptive statistics, including 95% confidence intervals, were calculated using sample weights from the NIS dataset.ResultsAmong the 40 million delivery-related admissions, 51 161 patients were reported to have SLE. Patients with SLE had a higher risk of fetal morbidity, including IUGR (8.0% vs 2.7%) and pre-term delivery (14.5% vs 7.3%), than patients without SLE. During delivery, mothers with SLE were nearly four times as likely to require a blood transfusion or develop a cerebrovascular disorder, and 15 times as likely to develop acute renal failure than those without SLE.ConclusionOur study demonstrates that fetal morbidity and severe maternal morbidity occur at a higher rate in patients with SLE compared with those without. This quantitative work can help inform and counsel patients with SLE during pregnancy and planning.