[Pregnancy and inflammatory rheumatic diseases]

Abstract

Inflammatory rheumatic diseases often affect females of childbearing age and pregnancy remains a challenge for this group of patients and their physicians. However, the majority of patients can now have successful pregnancies and deliver healthy babies as a result of our improved knowledge of the risks encountered during pregnancy, better preventive and therapeutic measures, and in particular close rheumatological, obstetric and neonatal monitoring. To ensure a favorable outcome, pregnancy should be planned to take place during a period of disease stability, monitored closely (physical examination, laboratory tests, and Doppler ultrasound), and treated appropriately.