Outcome of Pregnancy in Systemic Sclerosis
Lingling Salang MD1, Pranorm Buppasiri MD1, Chingching Foocharoen MD2
Affiliation : 1 Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 2 Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Objective : A few studies have been published on the outcome of pregnancy among patients with systemic sclerosis [SSc] but
to our knowledge none among Thai patients with SSc. Our objective was to determine the pregnancy outcome among Thai
patients with SSc.
Materials and Methods : A 11-year retrospective study (between 2007 and 2017) was conducted at Srinagarind Hospital,
Khon Kaen University. All pregnant women with SSc were enrolled to evaluate their pregnancy outcomes.
Results : Seven pregnancies from 5 women with SSc were reviewed. The pregnant women were between 23 and 37 years.
Four of the 5 had the limited cutaneous SSc subset and two had overlap with other connective tissue diseases. Only 1 patient
had pulmonary fibrosis before being pregnant but she continued the pregnancy without any worsening of the disease. Four
of seven SSc pregnant participants required pregnancy termination for uncontrolled autoimmune hemolytic anemia, eclampsia
with hemolytic elevated liver enzyme and low platelet [HELLP], fetal distress, and premature rupture of membrane,
respectively. The pre-term delivery occurred in 2 pregnant SSc patients and the maternal and fetal outcomes were normal.
Conclusion : The number of pregnant SSc patients in the 11-year historical review was limited. Most of the patients had an
uncomplicated pregnancy but the respective maternal and fetal outcome in those with SSc overlap with other connective
tissue disease trended to be worse than in pure SSc. Family planning is suggested for all reproductive age SSc patients.
Keywords : Scleroderma, Systemic sclerosis, Pregnancy, Outcomes, Intrauterine growth retardation, Preterm
