Pregnancy, Gestation, and Delivery Considerations for Lupus Patients

(1) Pregnancy and use of contraceptives are not allowed in the first 2 years of disease onset (especially in unstable disease, antiphospholipid syndrome or nephrotic syndrome, hypercoagulable tendency or history of thrombosis), and pregnancy should not be allowed in non-stable period or those who have not been stabilized for a long period of time, and it is especially preferable to avoid pregnancy for those who are suffering from lupus nephritis. (2) If you plan to get pregnant, it is better not to use immunosuppressants such as cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil, if necessary, azathioprine <2mg/(kg.d), it is better to measure the functional mercaptopurine methyltransferase (to prevent drug accumulation and bone marrow suppression), and it is possible to combine it with cyclosporine A in the case of severe lupus nephritis during pregnancy. (3) Timing of pregnancy: no vital organ involvement (Cr<2mg/dl, urinary protein<0.5g/d), the disease has been under control for more than 1-3 years (at least half a year), the amount of hormone is small (e.g., prednisone<15mg/d) and no immunosuppressant drugs are used, as prednisone ≥20mg/d can increase the risk of eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus. (4) Pre-pregnancy testing: ANA, anti-ds-DNA, anti-SSA and SSB antibodies, lupus anticoagulant, C3, C4, CH50, blood electrolytes, liver function, blood and urine routine, anhydride clearance, 24h total protein and calcium, and if platelet decrease, check anti-platelet antibody and anti-phospholipid antibody. (5) Lupus patients are prone to miscarriage in the first 3 months of pregnancy, they should insist on taking medication and avoid trauma and injury; the condition is likely to worsen in the second 3 months of pregnancy and after delivery (about 50%), so the condition should be closely monitored. (6) Frequency of follow-up for pregnant women with lupus: 1 visit every 4-6 weeks during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, 1 visit every 2 weeks during the first 20-28 weeks of pregnancy, and 1 visit every week after the 28th week of pregnancy, with follow-up on changes in condition, physical examination, blood routine, blood biochemistry, urinary routine, anti-ds-DNA antibody, complement C3 and C4, CH50, uric acid and anticardiolipin antibody, etc. Lowering of complement, increase in anti-ds-DNA antibody and CRP suggests higher risk of preterm labor, and blood uric acid level suggests higher risk of preterm labor. Increased blood uric acid level can help identify preeclampsia and lupus nephritis. (7) In the case of hyperemesis gravidarum, blood pressure should be controlled below 140/90mmHg, and ACEI and ARB should not be used to prevent fetal renal dysplasia. Thiazide diuretics can be used, but not in combination with labeled diuretics to avoid reducing fetal blood flow. Methyl dopa, hydralazine and labetalol are available. (8) Closely monitor blood pressure and urine protein, once abnormal, need to identify whether it is lupus nephritis or pre-eclampsia. Indications suggestive of lupus nephritis include: systemic lupus activity; reactive urinary sediment; markedly decreased complement; and increased blood uric acid levels. For those who are positive for anti-SSA and SSB or who have had previous episodes of congestive heart failure, watch for congestive heart failure between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. (9) Reduce the risk of miscarriage and thrombosis with low-dose aspirin combined with low-molecular heparin in those with combined antiphospholipid syndrome, whereas those with only antiphospholipid antibodies may use aspirin alone. (10) monitoring of the fetus ① early pregnancy: from the 10th week, each visit to monitor the fetal heart sounds; ② mid-pregnancy: every 2 weeks at the clinic, monitor the fetal heart sounds; the 18th to 20th week of the application of ultrasound to check for congenital defects; by determining the height of the uterine fundus to assess the developmental state of the fetus, the application of ultrasonography, if necessary; ③ late pregnancy: ultrasonography every 3-4 weeks; weekly uterine fundus height to assess the developmental state of the fetus; ③ late pregnancy: every 3-4 weeks; uterine fundus height assessment (iii) Late pregnancy: ultrasonography every 3~4 weeks; weekly fundal height assessment of the developmental state of the fetus; application of multispectral for biophysical testing (such as amniotic fluid volume, fetal movement, respiration, and fetal heartbeat, etc.) during the 28th~30th weeks; if still unsure, closer follow-up should be conducted, and oxytocin contraction test or induction of labor should be performed if necessary. (11) Indications for termination of pregnancy: ① cardiac involvement, such as endocarditis, myocarditis and cardiac insufficiency; ② progressive glomerulonephritis or renal failure; ③ nephrotic syndrome; ④ although there is no obvious symptom, but the immune monitoring indicators are significantly elevated. (12) Mode of delivery: after 37 weeks of pregnancy, if the condition is stable or mild activity and there is no contraindication, vaginal delivery can be carried out; when high-dose hormone therapy is still difficult to control the condition or need to add immunosuppressants, cesarean section is preferred. (13) Anesthesia: according to the specific analysis of the specific situation, no abnormalities, epidural anesthesia is the main; and platelets less than 20 × 109 / L to general anesthesia (requiring fetal cesarean section within 3 minutes) is the main; (14) long-term use of hormones, the amount of hormones need to be temporarily increased during the operation; (15) the need for postoperative hemostasis, promote contractions and anti-inflammatory; (16) whether breastfeeding, mainly depends on the severity of the condition and the situation of taking medication, if the condition is stable, if the drug is taken, it is advisable to choose cesarean section. taking drugs, if the condition is stable, can withstand busy, and taking drugs with little toxicity, only small doses of hormones and hydroxychloroquine, etc., should be able to breastfeed.