A Case of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Associated With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Han, Se Yul; Yoon, Tae Ki; Cha, Kwang Yul; Choi, Dong Hee; Nam, Yoon Sung

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is a multisystem disorder with a peak age of onset in the second and fourth decades of life predominantly occuring in females who will usually have the potential to become pregnant. This female to male predominance is greatest during childbearing years approaching a ratio of 13:1, after the menopause it declines to a ratio of 3:1, the ratio also seen in prepubertal years. In practice, despite the higher prevalence of rheumatiod arthritis, pregnancy in SLE is the most common management problem confronting physician and obstetrician amongst the connective tissue disorders and it is particularly important as the outcome of pregnancy is more unpredictable in this disease. As well as having clinical consequences for the health of both mother and fetus, pregnancy in lupus provides a model for studying the importance of other biological phenomena characterizing the disease. For example, the transplacental passage of maternal antibodies to Ro(SSA) and La(SSB) and their strong association with the neonatal lupus syndrome suggests a pathogenetic role for these autoantibodies. Other relevant issues are feto-meternal immunological tolerance and hormonal interaction with the immune system. We have experienced a case of recurrent pregnancy loss associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. So we report this case with a brief review of literatures.