The outcome of pregnancy complicated by Behcet's disease

Chung, Sue Min; Hwang, Han Sung; Park, Yong Won; Kim, Young Han

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Behcet's disease (BD) on pregnancy outcome.
METHODS
We evaluated pregnancies in women who had been diagnosed as BD prior to pregnancy. The medical records of 39 pregnancies in 27 women from May, 1991 to July, 2007 with underlying BD and 499 randomly selected normal pregnancies not associated with BD were retrospectively reviewed. Women with other connective tissue disorders like systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis and medical illnesses such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension were excluded from the study. The statistical significance was defined as P<0.05.
RESULTS
The influence of BD on pregnancy and its outcome were studied in comparison with the normal group. The age, parity, spontaneous abortion rates, delivery weeks, cesarean section rates, premature rupture of membranes, preterm birth, fetal birth weights, APGAR scores, and intrauterine fetal death were compared. Majority of the women with BD were primiparae (P<0.001), and intrauterine fetal death rates (P<0.001) were significantly higher in the study group. The 1-minute APGAR score (P<0.005) of 4 or less and 5-minute APGAR score (P<0.039) of 7 or less appeared more in Behcet's group. The incidences of pregnancy complications including spontaneous abortion, premature rupture of membranes, preterm birth, and small for gestational age did not show statistically significant differences between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
The results show higher rates of primiparity, lower APGAR scores, and higher intrauterine fetal death rates in patients with BD which implies that the disease may adversely affect pregnancy. Therefore, it is important for pregnant women with BD to receive proper antenatal care and preconception counseling prior to pregnancy.