Reproductive health counseling and contraceptive use in Mexican women with rheumatic diseases: a cross-sectional study

Harmonizing Motherhood: Navigating Pregnancy Outcomes in Connective Tissue Disorders

Background Connective tissue disorders encompass a diverse array of autoimmune and hereditary conditions, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. These disorders present unique challenges during pregnancy due to their complex pathophysiology and potential complications. Understanding their impact on pregnancy outcomes is vital for optimizing maternal and fetal health. Objective To investigate the burden, complications, maternal and fetal outcomes, and prognosis of connective tissue disorders in pregnancy. Methods The study was conducted over one year and six months at Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, India, involving 45 pregnant women diagnosed with connective tissue disorders. Standard antenatal investigations were conducted, and participants were monitored throughout the antenatal period. Maternal and fetal outcomes were meticulously evaluated. Results Baseline characteristics revealed a heterogeneous distribution of age and parity among participants, reflecting the diverse nature of connective tissue disorders in pregnancy. Maternal medical outcomes, such as gestational hypertension (GHTN) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), were prevalent, highlighting the necessity of close monitoring. Obstetric outcomes included spontaneous abortion and preterm delivery, indicating elevated risks in this population. Fetal outcomes, including fetal growth restriction and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, underscored the impact of these disorders on fetal health. Conclusion This study examines pregnant connective tissue disorder burden, complications, maternal and fetal outcomes, and prognosis. The complicated relationship between these illnesses, and pregnancy requires specialist care and close monitoring. The participants' baseline features represent connective tissue condition heterogeneity, affecting clinical practice. Among the study subjects, 40% had RA and 20% had SLE, the most common connective tissue illness. Adverse maternal medical outcomes, like GHTN (27.27% of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients and 22.22% of SLE patients) and GDM (18.18% of APS patients and 11.11% of SLE patients), highlight the need for close maternal health monitoring and management during pregnancy. Overall, this study sheds light on connective tissue abnormalities and pregnancy outcomes. Healthcare providers can improve reproductive health and well-being for various illnesses by knowing these relationships.

The prognostic value of neutrophile/lymphocyte ratio and serum chemerin to predict maternal-fetal complications in pregnant systemic lupus erythematosus patients

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy in SLE continues to be a challenge. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and chemerin are predictors of preeclampsia in the general population; however, their role as predictors of maternal-fetal complications in pregnant SLE patients has not been analyzed.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prognostic value of NLR and serum chemerin, to predict maternal-fetal complications in pregnant SLE patients, and compare both biomarkers among three study groups.

METHODS

Design: Analytical cross-sectional study of cases and controls with the following study groups: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), preeclampsia, and healthy. NLR and chemerin serum were determined between 20 and 25 weeks of gestation. Patients were evaluated every 4-6 weeks until pregnancy resolution. Maternal and fetal outcomes were registered. We employed Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves to validate prognostic values.

RESULTS

Seventy pregnant patients were included: 20 with SLE, 20 with preeclampsia, and 30 healthy pregnant women; NLR values were 4 (2.3-5.6) in SLE, 6 (4.6-9.2) in preeclampsia, and 2.8 (2.1-2.9) in the group of healthy women (p = .0001). Chemerin levels were: 26 (15.3-56.2) in SLE, 96 (37.3-146.2) in preeclampsia, and 24.6 ng/mL (15.3-47.4) in the healthy group (p = .007) Maternal complications were observed in 11 (55%), 20 (100%), and 8 (26%) per group, respectively. Thrombocytopenia was the most frequent complication in all pregnant women, followed by hypertensive disorders. Fetal complications were registered in 12 (60%), 16 (80%), and 2 (6.7%), respectively. Congenital malformations and prematurity were the most frequent fetal complications. NLR had good diagnostic accuracy in predicting maternal-fetal complications (AUROC 0.715) p = .015, CI 95% 0.56-0.86, cut-off point level: 2.9, sensitivity 61%, specificity 78%, positive predictive value (PPV) 65%, negative predictive value (NPV) 75%. Regarding chemerin, a cut-off point level >43 ng/mL had a sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 72% AUROC 0.75, p = .001, CI 95% 0.61-0.89, PPV 51.7% NPV 87.8%, meaning that 51.7% of patients with chemerin levels >43 ng/mL have or will have preeclampsia.

CONCLUSION

The NLR may help predict maternal-fetal complications in SLE pregnancy, constituting a marker of subclinical inflammation. Chemerin levels may be associated with preeclampsia. These biomarkers could improve the care of SLE patients with timely intervention of potential complications during pregnancy.

Construction and validation of a reproductive behavior questionnaire for female patients with rheumatic diseases

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES

Active autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) before conception increase the risk of flares and adverse pregnancy outcomes. We aimed to construct and validate a reproductive behavior questionnaire in Spanish for patients with ARDs to assess their knowledge and their reproductive behavior.

METHOD

We constructed and validated a reproductive behavior questionnaire in two phases: (1) a literature review followed by interviews of reproductive-age female patients, and (2) a cross-sectional study to complete validation. Convenience sampling was carried out with 165 female patients: 65 participated in the cross-cultural adaptation phase and 100 in the validation phase. The internal consistency was evaluated by estimating Cronbach's alpha and tetrachoric correlation coefficients. Values ≥ 0.40 were considered acceptable (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

The initial instrument included 38 questions. Thematic analysis identified 8 important dimensions or topics, which were combined to create the Rheuma Reproductive Behavior interview questionnaire. A final total of 41 items across 10 dimensions were obtained. The test-retest analysis showed perfect correlations in 34 of the 41 items, moderate in 6 items, and negative in one of the items. The mean age of the patients was 35.65 years (SD 9.02), and the mean time to answer the survey was 13.66 min (SD 7.1).

CONCLUSIONS

The Rheuma Reproductive Behavior questionnaire showed good reliability and consistency capturing patients' reproductive health knowledge and reproductive behavior. Key Points • We designed and validated a questionnaire to assess reproductive health knowledge and reproductive behavior among female patients with ARDs. • The questionnaire was comprehensible for participants, and showed good reliability and consistency capturing reproductive knowledge and behavior. • This tool may aid in the design of strategies to improve reproductive decision-making for female patients with ARDs.

Views of Mexican outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis on sexual and reproductive health: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) impacts sexual and reproductive health (SRH), which is a prominent component of a patient´s quality of life and highly influenced by the cultural background. The aim of the study was to explore the interest of Mexican outpatients with RA in SRH and to examine patient view on SRH.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study surveyed 303 consecutive outpatients with RA on their perceptions of SRH importance, SRH satisfaction, access to SRH information, preferences regarding SRH communication with healthcare professionals, and understanding of SRH (qualitative open-ended descriptions). Descriptive statistics and inferential analysis were used. Patient knowledge of each dimension of SRH was rated based on pre-specified criteria. Two assessors assigned ten major themes to each patient´s description of both dimensions of SRH.

RESULTS

Patients perceived their SRH as an important component of their general health and wished to address the topic, although few had access to such communication. Female patients assigned lesser importance to SRH, showed lesser degree of satisfaction with SRH, and expressed preference for a truthful physician. Age showed a linear association with individual survey responses, except for satisfaction with reproductive health dimension. There was a linear association between increased age and decreased years of formal education with a lower level of SRH knowledge. Ten major themes emerged for each of the two dimensions of the SRH construct, although most individual descriptions were assigned to one or two major themes.

CONCLUSIONS

Further education and assessment of SRH in Mexican patients with RA is warranted.