Abstract

Management of pregnancy among patients with rheumatological autoimmune diseases requires special attentiveness to control maternal disease activity and prevent fetal complications. Despite the heterogenecity of rheumatic diseases, the course of pregnancy depends mostly on the degree of disease activity at the time of conception. Pregnancy itself implies physiological changes, that are also expressed in laboratory tests. The same tests are changed during disease activity of the rheumatic disease. Since glucocorticoids and cytostatic immunosuppressants are mainly used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases, the prevalence of the drug depends in this case not only on the degree of activity of the disease, but also on the fact of the pregnancy. It is necessary to carefully choose the appropriate drug dosage and prefer drug classes that are harmless for fetus. Thus, taking into consideration the course and complications of rheumatic disease, a differential diagnosis should be made to identify it from preeclampsia of pregnancy. Such laboratory indicators as uric acid, complement components, liver enzymes, urine sediment results, and the count of leukocytes in the blood can be used. The outcome of pregnancy can be favorable, if it is planned during the period of remission of the disease, taking into account the comorbid diseases of the pregnant woman as well. This is why detailed monitoring of a pregnant woman with systemic lupus erythematosus is the best way to prevent maternal and fetal complications.