How does pregnancy affect Rheumatoid Arthritis?
• Two-thirds of patients with RA have improvement in RA symptoms during pregnancy, but <20% achieve drug-free remission.
• Symptom improvement is highest during the third trimester.
• Two-thirds of RA patients have a flare of RA symptoms in the first 6 months postpartum.
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate increases during pregnancy and should not be used in the measurements of disease activity.
