Clinical features of new‐onset systemic lupus erythematosus in pregnant patients

Aim This study was conducted to examine the clinical characteristics of new‐onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during pregnancy. Methods We performed a retrospective study of all pregnancies in patients with SLE managed at The People's Hospital of Peking University from 2008 to 2015. In total, 97 pregnancies were identified and studied, 22 of which were first diagnosed with SLE during pregnancy or puerperium. Results New‐onset SLE mainly occurred during the first and second pregnancy trimesters. Blood and multi‐organ involvement were detected in 95.45% and 45.45% of new‐onset patients, respectively, and both had a higher incidence than in active patients. Thrombocytopenia was the most common blood involvement in new‐onset patients. All three maternal deaths occurred in new‐onset patients. There were nine (40.91%) fetal losses, three (13.64%) low birth weight infants, one (4.54%) fetal malformation and two (9.09%) cases of neonatal lupus in new‐onset patients. Conclusion New‐onset pregnant SLE patients were characterized with blood system involvement and generally experienced more adverse maternal outcomes than active patients with SLE history. However, adverse fetal outcomes in new‐onset patients were the same as those of active patients with an SLE history.