Having lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis will not affect fertility at all if the disease is well controlled. And it will not have a big impact on children. However, patients with lupus nephritis must meet the following two conditions to have children.
1. Stabilization of lupus activity
The seven indicators in judging the activity of lupus include
①Arthritis.
② Positive ANA and decreased complement.
③Rash, mucosal ulcers, hair loss.
④Pleurisy, pericarditis.
⑤Epilepsy, lupus headache, mental abnormalities.
⑥Vasculitis.
⑦Urinary changes, such as proteinuria, hematuria.
More than 3 of these 7 indicators such as arthritis, pericarditis, vasculitis, myalgia, brain and kidney damage are called severe activity, and if there is no manifestation of the above become stable disease. Patients with lupus nephritis can work, study and live like normal people after their condition is controlled through active treatment. As for pregnancy, it can be considered when the lupus activity is stable. Antiphospholipid antibodies and miscarriage after pregnancy in LN patients are closely related and should be monitored.
2. Therapeutic drugs should be stopped for at least six months
Patients with lupus nephritis take a lot of hormonal drugs and immunosuppressants to control their disease. These drugs can cause hormonal disorders in the patient’s body, leading to a decrease in women’s ability to conceive, and hormonal drugs can lead to fetal malformations. Pregnancy itself can also increase the burden on the heart and kidney function of lupus patients and induce disease relapse.
When considering pregnancy, patients with lupus nephritis must consider whether the condition of lupus nephritis is stable, whether the duration of clinical remission is long enough, and whether the use of small doses of hormones and immunosuppressive drugs is discontinued for more than six months, under which conditions pregnancy causes the least damage to the kidneys of patients with lupus nephritis.
Lupus erythematosus has a certain genetic predisposition.
It has been found that the incidence of lupus erythematosus in close relatives is 5-12%, and in heterozygotes the incidence is 23-69%, which indicates that heredity is related to the occurrence of the disease.
However, in clinical practice, we have seen many children born to patients with lupus who are very healthy and do not have lupus. As to the question of whether lupus erythematosus is hereditary, in fact, the pathogenesis of lupus erythematosus is the result of a combination of factors including infection, endocrine and environmental influences, and it should be especially noted that psychological factors are a very important cause of triggering and aggravating the disease.
Accordingly, it can only be said that lupus erythematosus has a hereditary tendency, but not a hereditary disease. Having clarified whether lupus erythematosus is hereditary or not, lupus erythematosus patients can not be overly worried that their disease will be inherited to their children. However, it is better to do genetic examination for early pregnancy, and pregnancy should be interrupted if there is a clear LN gene locus.
Finally: issues that should be noted during pregnancy in patients with lupus nephritis
1. Pay close attention to the whole pregnancy process
A little inattention during pregnancy may cause deterioration of the disease and aggravate lupus activity. Therefore, lupus patients must pay close attention to the changes of the disease and some indicators during pregnancy. When symptoms of deterioration appear, they should seek medical attention in time and follow the doctor’s arrangement for treatment.
2. Pregnant patients with lupus nephritis should pay attention to reasonable diet and rest
Pregnant lupus kidney patients should pay more attention to diet and rest. A reasonable diet reduces the chances of triggering a relapse of lupus nephritis and also regulates the body. Moderate rest to avoid excessive fatigue inducing lupus flare-ups.
The actual fact is that you should not ignore your condition and decide subjectively on your own fertility. It is best to consult a professional nephrologist before making a decision, otherwise the pregnancy is prone to various complications and even threatens the life of the patient and the fetus.