Practical management of pregnancy in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-system disorder belonging to the connective tissue group of diseases characterized by circulating non-organ-specific autoantibodies. Its incidence may be increasing and, as milder cases are recognized, it is becoming a condition likely to be encountered in many medical settings. The peak onset is during the child-bearing years when the sex ratio approaches 13:1 in favour of females. Fertility rates are normal and hence pregnancy becomes a common management problem in this group of patients.