OBJECTIVE: To analyze the pregnancy history in relation to the presence or absence of anticardiolipin antibodies in women who had been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). DESIGN: One-hundred twenty-five women of reproductive age who were diagnosed with SLE and attended the Lupus Clinic at Parkland Memorial Hospital or Southwestern Medical Center were selected for this study. A retrospective review of patient histories, including anticardiolipin antibody test results and pregnancy histories, was conducted. Women who had therapeutic pregnancy terminations were excluded from this study. A chi 2 analysis was used to evaluate the significance of the data. RESULTS: In women with SLE of childbearing age with anticardiolipin antibodies, a 39% pregnancy loss rate occurred, compared with an 11% loss rate in anticardiolipin antibody-negative women. In women with at least two pregnancies who had anticardiolipin antibodies, 27% experienced two or more losses, whereas only 3% of antibody-negative women had recurrent pregnancy loss. CONCLUSION: We conclude that women with SLE and the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies are at increased risk for pregnancy loss.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the pregnancy history in relation to the presence or absence of anticardiolipin antibodies in women who had been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). DESIGN: One-hundred twenty-five women of reproductive age who were diagnosed with SLE and attended the Lupus Clinic at Parkland Memorial Hospital or Southwestern Medical Center were selected for this study. A retrospective review of patient histories, including anticardiolipin antibody test results and pregnancy histories, was conducted. Women who had therapeutic pregnancy terminations were excluded from this study. A chi 2 analysis was used to evaluate the significance of the data. RESULTS: In women with SLE of childbearing age with anticardiolipin antibodies, a 39% pregnancy loss rate occurred, compared with an 11% loss rate in anticardiolipin antibody-negative women. In women with at least two pregnancies who had anticardiolipin antibodies, 27% experienced two or more losses, whereas only 3% of antibody-negative women had recurrent pregnancy loss. CONCLUSION: We conclude that women with SLE and the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies are at increased risk for pregnancy loss.
Authors: C Sachse; K Lüthke; K Hartung; M Fricke; B Liedvogel; J R Kalden; H H Peter; H J Lakomek; E Henkel; H Deicher Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 1995 Impact factor: 2.631