BETTER UNDERSTANDING HOW TO LIVE WITH LUPUS

Will I be able to have children? Can I continue my medication during my pregnancy?

YES, it is most often possible to have children, but on several conditions:

In general, lupus patients have no difficulty getting pregnant. Some patients who have received high doses of cyclophosphamide– a very important drug in the treatment of severe lupus (kidney or neurological damage) – may, however, have premature menopause

During pregnancy, in case of antiphospholipid syndrome, clots can form in the vessels of the placenta, preventing exchanges between mother and child and causing early miscarriages. This pathology must be detected and managed before pregnancy.

Thanks to medical progress, the management of pregnancies of lupus patients has progressed considerably and pregnancies are most often going well now provided that:

The pregnancy is "scheduled", that is, planning conception when lupus has been inactive for at least 6 to 12 months.

The pregnant woman is monitored more frequently, to check that her lupus does not become active.

The formation of clots is prevented by taking aspirin and/or anticoagulation medicines.

In some cases, especially in the case of kidney failure, the risks generated by pregnancy will be such  that the doctor may advise a patient not to be pregnant. The list of lupus drugs that can be used during pregnancy is available in Appendix 6.

Takeaways

Pregnancy is most often possible during lupus. It must be planned and considered when lupus has been inactive for 6 to 12 months. Multidisciplinary monitoring is essential during pregnancy. Severe kidney damage, however, can be a contraindication to pregnancy.

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