What to pay attention to during pregnancy with lupus erythematosus?

  Precautions during pregnancy in lupus erythematosus include: 1. Pay attention to ovarian function protection and use ovarian toxicity drugs carefully: cyclophosphamide (CTX) and tretinoin preparations are commonly used in the treatment of SLE, and their efficacy is certain. However, both have a prominent toxic reaction to the gonads, and it is not uncommon for them to lead to ovarian failure clinically. Once amenorrhea occurs, even if the drug is discontinued in time, some patients are unable to resume menstruation. Therefore, for SLE patients who plan to have a pregnancy, CTX and Radix et Rhizoma should be used clinically with caution, paying attention to menstrual changes when applying them, regularly checking sex hormone levels, detecting abnormal changes and adjusting treatment in time to avoid irreversible ovarian failure.  2. Master the timing of pregnancy: Pregnancy and childbirth were once listed as contraindications for SLE patients, because pregnancy and childbirth often lead to recurrence or aggravation of SLE, or even life-threatening. The timing of pregnancy in SLE patients mainly depends on the disease activity of SLE, but after the disease control, pregnancy can be planned and most of them can safely pass the pregnancy and childbirth period. However, pregnancy is contraindicated in patients with heart, lung, kidney and central nervous system lesions. SLE is more likely to recur when the patient starts pregnancy than when the disease is stable. It is generally recommended that pregnancy can be considered when there is no significant organ involvement, the disease has been stable for more than one year, the dosage of prednisone is less than 10 mg daily, and immunosuppressive drugs (such as CTX, methotrexate, ralston, etc.) are stopped for more than six months. If you have antiphospholipid antibodies, it is best to wait for more than 3 months for the antiphospholipid antibodies to turn negative before getting pregnant to reduce the occurrence of miscarriage.  3, close monitoring, appropriate medication: SLE patients during pregnancy, it is necessary to follow up in the Department of Rheumatology and Obstetrics, close monitoring, to avoid overwork or infection. If the condition is unstable, prednisone treatment can be applied. Prednisone is inactivated when it passes through the placental barrier and has no significant effect on fetal development as long as the dose is below 30 mg/d. Dexamethasone, on the other hand, can directly affect the fetus through the placental barrier, so it should not be used in patients with SLE during pregnancy. SLE patients with recurrent miscarriage are often associated with positive antiphospholipid antibodies and require additional low-dose aspirin therapy. Antimalarials can accumulate in the infant’s retina and should therefore be discontinued before conception. The effects of azathioprine and cyclosporine on the fetus are not well documented in large samples. If CTX or methotrexate has to be used for severe disease, pregnancy should be terminated for the safety of the mother and to avoid the development of malformations.  The possibility of pregnancy in patients with lupus erythematosus is controversial because of the tendency to miscarriage in the first trimester and the ability to cause exacerbation in the last trimester and postpartum. In clinical practice, it has been observed that most female patients get married, get pregnant and give birth based on the basic remission of the disease. The disease is still in remission after childbirth, but certain conditions must be met.  1. The disease has been in basic remission for more than 6 months.  2.Negative anti-cardiolipin antibody. Those who are positive are prone to miscarriage and stillbirth.  3.Prednisone take less than 15 mg of maintenance or no hormone.  4.Pregnancy should be followed up regularly under the observation of a specialist and delivery in an experienced hospital obstetrics department.  5.Since the placenta can oxidize prednisone to the inactive form of 11-ketone, it protects the fetus. Therefore, prednisone taken by the mother has no effect on the fetus. To prevent deterioration during pregnancy and postpartum, the dose should be increased depending on the condition. If the condition is stable, the original dose can be restored.  6. Dexamethasone and betamethasone cannot be oxidized by placental enzymes and can affect the fetus, so patients taking such hormones need to be replaced with prednisone.  7. More calcium should be added during pregnancy and lactation, otherwise it will accelerate the osteonecrosis of the patient.  8.Dose of prednisone during breastfeeding should be under 15 mg per day, not more than 30 mg at most.  9, pregnant women are prohibited salicylates, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-malarial drugs. Immunosuppressants should also be discontinued.  With the improvement of SLE diagnosis and treatment, the goal of SLE treatment is not only to prolong life, but also to maintain long-term remission and improve quality of life. The relationship between pregnancy, childbirth and SLE is an issue of concern because SLE predominates in women of childbearing age.