Several studies have emphasized poor pregnancy outcomes associated with active lupus nephritis at the onset of conception. A few controversial studies have compared pregnancy outcome in patients with inactive lupus nephritis at conception and those without a history of lupus nephritis.
This study aimed to find out if quiescent lupus nephritis at the onset of conception carries an increased risk of pregnancy complications compared to pregnancies without a history of lupus nephritis. This is a prospective cohort study carried out at the Rheumatology/Obstetrics Conjoint Clinic of Kasr Al-Ainy Hospital.
A total of 119 pregnancies were included: 72 pregnancies in group I (with a history of lupus nephritis) and 47 pregnancies in group II (non-renal systemic lupus erythematosus). They were subjected to full history taking, monthly clinical examination and laboratory investigations. In total, 16 (22.2%) renal pregnancies had renal flares at the onset of conception.
In conclusion, lupus nephritis, per se, is not a risk factor for poor pregnancy outcome; rather, it is the lupus nephritis activity at the onset of pregnancy.
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