Gestational Rheumatology

Excerpt

There are changes that occur in the maternal organ systems due to increased demands of pregnancy. Most of the rheumatic disorders occur in the reproductive age group. The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy may mimic the signs and symptoms of rheumatic disorders thereby making the diagnosis difficult. Rheumatological disorders need to be diagnosed and treated at least 6 months before the onset of pregnancy; otherwise they may have considerable effect on the prognosis of the disease. This is particularly evident in cases of SLE and anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome. Therefore, pregnancy is a crucial issue that needs to be clearly addressed in details in all female patients in the reproductive age group having some of the rheumatological disorders.