Antinuclear antibody positivity leading to fetal arrest usually occurs in early pregnancy, i.e., within 12 weeks of pregnancy, and sometimes in mid-pregnancy, i.e., between 12 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.
Positive antinuclear antibodies are usually caused by autoimmune diseases, most commonly systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, dry syndrome, etc. Positive antinuclear antibodies indicate that the pregnant woman has a certain degree of immunological resistance to the fetus, which usually leads to fetal arrest within 12 weeks of gestation or between 12 and 28 weeks of gestation.
However, positive antinuclear antibodies do not necessarily lead to fetal arrest. If antinuclear antibodies are found to be positive, further tests should be conducted to determine whether there is any abnormality in other labs and to identify the specific primary cause of the disease.
In addition, antinuclear antibody-positive patients have hypercoagulable blood, which may affect the early embryonic development, and even the growth and development of the fetus in the middle and late stages, including the function of the placenta.
Therefore, it is recommended that antinuclear antibody-positive patients should seek timely medical treatment in early pregnancy to prevent fetal arrest, and should not be ignored and delayed to avoid adverse consequences.