Background/Purpose: Women of childbearing age are rarely affected by systemic vasculitis (SV), explaining the lack of solid data regarding pregnancy in these patients. The objective of this work was to describe pregnancy course in women with (SV), exposure to immunosuppressive drugs, and obstetric events such as preterm birth (PTB) and hypertensive complications of pregnancy.

Methods: We performed two analyses using the national cohort of pregnant women with SV from the French National Health Data System. Immunosuppressant exposure was identified from outpatient and inpatient reimbursement data. Pregnancies among women with SV (cases) were matched with pregnancies without SV (controls) using a 1:5 case-control ratio. We estimated the risk of PTB and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy among women with SV by comparison with matched population and we investigated associated risk factors. SV flare during a trimester was defined as an augmentation of glucocorticoids (GCs) daily dose.

Results: Of 3,246,454 pregnancies, 649 pregnancies were observed in 606 women with SV. Immunosuppressant and GCs use decreased before pregnancy and then increased after pregnancy (48.4%, 40.7%, 50.4%, respectively before, during, after) (Figure 1). Prevalence of GCs use was broadly stable during pregnancy from 27.9% to 27.6% and 23.7% in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters, respectively, with a daily dose of 5 mg. The number of patients treated with non-recommended immunosuppressant during pregnancy gradually decreased before pregnancy and then increased after delivery, whereas proportion of SV flare did not increase significantly during pregnancy (Figure 2). SV were significantly associated with PTB (OR 1.8, 95% CI [1.4-2.3]) and hypertensive disorders (OR 1.7, 95% CI [1.3-2.2]) (Table 1). Subgroup of SV significantly associated with PTB and hypertensive disorders were ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV), large vessel vasculitis (LVV), and immune complex small vessel vasculitis (ICV). Maternal age, end-stage renal disease before pregnancy and the occurrence of a vasculitis flare during pregnancy were independently associated with the occurrence of PTB. End-stage renal disease before pregnancy, hypertension before pregnancy, the occurrence of a vasculitis flare during pregnancy and the subgroup of SV were independently associated with the occurrence of hypertensive disorders.

Conclusion: Our data suggest vasculitis control during pregnancy with anticipation and cessation of teratogenic drugs before the beginning of the pregnancy. PTB and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were more frequent among women presenting SV compared to a matched population and occurrence of vasculitis flare was associated with these complications. Our results support the importance of preconception consultations and then specialized follow-up of these patients in order to review treatments, replace non-recommended and/or teratogenic drugs with drugs considered safe during pregnancy, as well as ensure stability of the underlying disease.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/drug-use-and-pregnancy-outcomes-in-pregnant-women-with-systemic-vasculitis-a-nation-wide-cohort-study/