RESEARCH - Higher RA activity in pregnancy linked to lower birth weight

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Higher Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity in Pregnancy Linked to Lower Birth Weight

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Dec 04 - Women with well controlled

rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have pregnancy outcomes comparable to those

in the general population, Dutch researchers report in the November

issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism.

Women with poorly controlled disease have an increased risk of lower

birth weight, however.

" The outcome of pregnancy...might be negatively influenced by RA,

since unfavorable pregnancy outcome has been demonstrated in several

rheumatic diseases, " Dr. Yael A. de Man, of Erasmus MC, University

Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and colleagues write.

" However, only a few studies have examined pregnancy outcomes in women

with RA. "

Dr. de Man and her colleagues prospectively studied pregnancy outcomes

in women with RA in relation to disease activity and medication use

during the pregnancy. The women were evaluated before pregnancy (if

possible), during each trimester, and at 6, 12 and 26 weeks after

delivery. The investigators analyzed clinical characteristics, disease

activity, medication use, and pregnancy outcome.

A total of 152 white women with RA with singleton pregnancies

participated. Disease activity was well controlled, with the median

disease activity score decreasing from 3.8 during the first trimester

to 3.3 during the third trimester. Mean daily doses of prednisone

during pregnancy were 7.7 mg, 8.0 mg, and 7.7 mg during the first,

second, and third trimesters, respectively.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/713442

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