How does systemic sclerosis affect fertility and pregnancy complications?
- • Fertility is unaffected.
- • Pulmonary hypertension is a contraindication to pregnancy.
- • Women with early disease should delay pregnancy until disease stabilization.
- • Increased risk: (1) preterm delivery, (2) intrauterine growth restriction, and (3) low birth weight.
- • Risk factors for worse outcomes: (1) early disease, (2) diffuse cutaneous SSc, (3) anti-Scl-70 ab, and (4) anti-RNA polymerase III ab.
- • Pregnancy does not cause progressive visceral involvement or increased risk of scleroderma renal crisis.
- • Raynaud’s symptoms often improve and gastrointestinal reflux and arthralgias often worsen.
