Abstract
Background: Prospective data on pregnancies in systemic sclerosis are scarce. We aimed to examine the frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal disease progression in systemic sclerosis, as well as the factors that predict these events.
Methods: In this analysis, we studied pregnant women with systemic sclerosis (American College of Rheumatology-European League Against Rheumatism 2013 classification) or with Very Early Diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis (VEDOSS criteria) included in the GR2 French prospective study. Frequency of composite adverse pregnancy outcomes (preterm birth at 34 weeks or less, placental insufficiency complications, small for gestational age, or fetal or neonatal death) and maternal disease course were the primary objectives. The secondary objectives were to assess other complications related to pregnancy (including delivery outcomes and postpartum complications) and compare these results with outcomes for age-matched controls from the French perinatal survey (ENP) 2016 (ie, general population), and to identify predictive factors associated with composite adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal disease course using univariate analysis.
Findings: Between May 1, 2014, and Dec 27, 2020, we included 58 pregnancies (in 52 women), with 53 (91·4%) resulting in livebirths. Of the 53 ongoing pregnancies beyond 22 weeks of gestation, 14 (26·4%) had a composite adverse pregnancy outcome, including two (3·8%) preterm deliveries at 34 weeks of gestation or less, 12 (22·6%) placental insufficiency complications (pre-eclampsia or fetal growth restriction), and six (11·3%) small for gestational age. Among the 53 pregnancies, six (11·3%) severe postpartum haemorrhage events occurred. When compared with the 2016 ENP survey results, pre-eclampsia (seven [13·2%] of 53 vs 16 [3·0%] of 530, p=0·0010, preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation (seven [13·2%] of 53 vs 31 [5·8%] of 530, p=0·047), birthweight of less than 2500 g (11 [21·1%] of 52 vs 23 [4·3%] of 530, p<0·0001), and severe postpartum haemorrhage (six [11·3%] of 53 vs seven [1·4%] of 516, p=0·0001) were more frequent than in the general population. No factors were significantly associated with the composite adverse pregnancy outcome in univariate analysis. Systemic sclerosis or VEDOSS worsened in 23 (39·7%) of 58 pregnancies, mainly during the postpartum period. In the univariate analysis, diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (odds ratio 3·7 [95% CI 1·1-12·4]) and previous cutaneous vascular involvement (3·7 [1·2-11·5]) were associated with maternal disease progression, whereas the presence of anticentromere antibodies was inversely associated with stable disease (0·2 [0·1-0·8]).
Interpretation: Despite 53 (91·4%) of 58 livebirths, systemic sclerosis pregnancies were associated with higher rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes and severe postpartum haemorrhage. Disease worsened in 23 (39·7%) of 58 pregnancies, particularly during the postpartum period, especially in women with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, previous cutaneous vascular involvement, and antibodies other than anticentromere.
Funding: Lupus France, Association des Sclérodermiques de France, Association Gougerot Sjögren, Association Francophone Contre la Polychondrite Chronique Atrophiante, AFM-Telethon, Société Nationale Française de Médecine Interne, Société Française de Rhumatologie, Cochin Hospital, French Health Ministry, Fondation for Research in Rheumatology, Association Prix Véronique Roualet, Union Chimique Belge.