Can pregnancy worsen lupus?

Lupus is a chronic disease in which the immune system, for unknown reasons, becomes hyperactive and attacks normal tissue. This attack results in inflammation and brings about symptoms.  Symptoms can be varied and can include achy or swollen joints, skin rashes, anemia, hair loss, seizures and a great number of other symptoms. 

For a long time it was thought that pregnancy would increase these lupus "flares."  Recent studies, however, indicate that this may not be the case, and that other factors may affect the amount and severity of flares.  A woman who conceives after five months of remission is much less likely to experience a flare while pregnant than a woman who becomes pregnant while their lupus is active. 

Some women with lupus may experience certain pregnancy symptoms and mistake them for lupus flares.  This can be the case with joint pain and swelling, for example.  Lupus rashes may appear to worsen during pregnancy.  The increased blood flow to the skin during pregnancy may only give the appearance that the rash is worsening.  Hair loss can be common to both lupus and pregnancy.

If you are pregnant and have lupus, your pregnancy will be considered "high risk."  This just means that your physician may be more involved and take more precautions than if you did not have lupus.  Complications can include gestational diabetes, urinary tract infections, hypertension, preeclampsia and premature rupture of the membrane.  Fortunately, over 90% of pregnant women who have lupus are able to have a complication-free pregnancy, and most of the complications are very treatable.

Print Article

Send to a friend