United States: People with autoimmune diseases such as lupus, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis tend to have fewer children, and women belonging to these categories are also reported to be at an increased risk of complications during pregnancy, as experts said.
About the latest research
Researchers in Finland examined the pregnancy outcomes and childbirth experience of about eight percent of Finnish people with some autoimmune disorder to people without such illnesses.
The findings of the research are published in Rheumatology on March 20.
Pregnancy-related complications in women
Women with characterized diseases, Addison’s disease, lupus, juvenile arthritis, vitamin B12 anemia, and rheumatoid arthritis, had higher rate of childlessness and had fewer children on average, suggested Anne Kerola and her team. She’s a Helsinki University Central Hospital resident and working in Rheumatology.
Complications in Men
Men with immune-related diseases were also more likely to have no children, and the study found out that men with myasthenia gravis, Addison’s disease, and vitamin B12 anemia had the greatest risk of being childless.
For women with different autoimmune disorders, the risks for pre-eclampsia, low birth weight, preterm delivery, non-elective C-sections, and the requirement for intensive care for newborns multifolds, giving complications during pregnancy.
On the other hand, those women with lupus, type 1 diabetes, and Addison’s disease have more than twice the risk of having complications, according to Finnish data.
Complications are rare- Experts
However, while speaking during the journal release, Kerola, the lead author stated that, even though the cases raise the risks, “many of the complications are still fairly rare.” It was added that health discussions between doctors and patients are important in helping to ease these issues.
Kerola said, “Family planning should actively be discussed between patients, both men and women, with rheumatic diseases and their healthcare providers,” as US News reported.
“Pregnancies in women with rheumatic diseases are carefully followed up to tailor medications appropriately, which helps reduce risks,” further added.