Rheumatology Advance Access published online on March 17, 2008
Rheumatology, doi:10.1093/rheumatology/ken046
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Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in pregnant patients affected with systemic lupus erythematosus and recurrent spontaneous abortion
1Department of Rheumatology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 2S. Giacomo Hospital, ASL RMA, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 3Department of Rheumatology, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila and 4Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Correspondence to:
R. Perricone, Chief of Rheumatology Policlinico Tor Vergata Hospital, Chair of Allergology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. E-mail: roberto.perricone{at}uniroma2.it
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Abstract |
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Objectives. We aimed to test the maternal and fetal outcome of SLE patients who suffered from recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) alone during pregnancy and whether the clinical response to IVIg treatment is accompanied by modifications of SLE-associated antibodies and of complement levels.
Methods. Twelve SLE-RSA pregnant patients were treated with high-dose IVIg and compared with 12 SLE-RSA pregnant patients treated with prednisolone and NSAIDs. They were evaluated for the clinical response [lupus activity index-pregnancy (LAI-P) scale] and for ANA, anti-dsDNA, anti Ro/SS-A or La/SS-B, aCL, LAC, C4, C3 before and during pregnancy, and before and after each treatment course. Pregnancy outcome in the two groups was also evaluated.
Results. The groups characteristics were homogeneous at the beginning of pregnancy. A beneficial clinical response following IVIg treatment was noted in all patients and mean LAI-P decreased from 0.72 ± 0.43 at the beginning of pregnancy to 0.13 ± 0.19 at the end of pregnancy (P < 0.0001). Antibodies and complement levels tended to normalize in most of the patients. These clinical and laboratory improvements were significant with respect to the control group. Pregnancy was successfully carried out in 12/12 (100%) SLE-RSA patients with a mean Apgar score of 8.92. Three patients in the control group got aborted (25%).
Conclusions. IVIg has a high response rate among SLE-RSA pregnant patients and may be considered safe and effective.
KEY WORDS: SLE, IVIg, APS, Pregnancy
Submitted 3 July 2007;
revised version accepted 21 January 2008.
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  R. Perricone, C. De Carolis, B. Kroegler, E. Greco, R. Giacomelli, P. Cipriani, L. Fontana, and C. Perricone Comment on: Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in pregnant patients affected with systemic lupus erythematosus and recurrent spontaneous abortion: reply Rheumatology, September 1, 2008; 47(9): 1439 - 1440. [Full Text] [PDF]
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H. Buyukhatipoglu, Y. Pehlivan, and A. M. Onat Comment on: Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in pregnant patients affected with systemic lupus erythematosus and recurrent spontaneous abortion Rheumatology, September 1, 2008; 47(9): 1438 - 1439. [Full Text] [PDF]
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