Risk of infantile hemangiomas in the offspring of women with autoimmune disease and the pathogenic implications of these lesions

The purpose of this study was to analyze the risk of maternal autoimmune disease or associated treatments on infantile hemangiomas (IHs), a common benign vascular tumor in infants, and to better understand how maternal chronic inflammation may play a factor in the pathogenesis of these lesions. Eligible women from the United States and Canada who enrolled before 19 weeks’ gestation and delivered at least one live born infant were recruited as part of the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) Autoimmune Disease in Pregnancy Project from 2004–2013. A total of 51/969 (5.3%) and 8/240 (3.3%) infants with IH were born to mothers with and without autoimmune disease, respectively (OR 1.61; 95%CI, 0.75–.44). The presence of ulcerative colitis (UC) in the mother was significantly associated with IH in the child (OR 3.46; 95%CI, 1.29–9.26). The five largest IH occurred within the autoimmune disease cohort and to women taking a biologic medication. These results imply that UC may be a risk factor for IH development, and that chronic inflammation may influence the development of these lesions. This potential link between IH and autoimmune disease warrants further investigation.