Provider perceptions on the management of lupus during pregnancy: barriers to improved care

BACKGROUND

More than half of pregnancies in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) result in adverse outcomes for the mother or the fetus. We sought to identify aspects of current rheumatologic care that could be improved to decrease the frequency of poor outcomes.

METHODS

Focus groups with clinical rheumatologists, based on the PRECEDE/PROCEED framework, identified factors that influenced care. A group of women with lupus on their reproductive journey contributed to our understanding of the dilemmas and care provided.

RESULTS

Medically ill-timed pregnancies and medication non-adherence during pregnancy were identified by rheumatologists as the two key dilemmas in care. We identified several communication gaps as key modifiable barriers to optimal management. The approach to physician-patient communication was often unsuitable to sensitive discussions about pregnancy planning. The communication of treatment plans was frequently hampered by gaps in knowledge and both physician and patient confidence in the data, encouraging non-adherence among nervous patients. Finally, local rheumatologists and obstetricians/gynecologists providers frequently did not communicate, leading to varying treatment plans and confusion for patients.

CONCLUSIONS

To decrease the frequency of ill-timed pregnancy and medication non-adherence it will be essential to empower rheumatologists, and women with lupus to have open and accurate conversations about pregnancy planning and management.

Reasons for cesarean and medically indicated deliveries in pregnancies in women with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective

To determine reasons for cesarean and medically indicated deliveries in a registry of pregnant women with SLE compared to RA.

Methods

Pregnant women with SLE or RA were prospectively followed, and pregnancy outcomes were collected, including whether labor was spontaneous or medically indicated and delivery was vaginal or cesarean. Preterm birth was defined as a birth <37 weeks gestation. Differences in reasons for cesarean delivery and indication of delivery between term and preterm births were determined by Fisher’s exact test.

Results

Compared to RA pregnancies, SLE pregnancies had modestly higher rates of preterm birth (24% SLE vs 14% RA), pre-eclampsia (15% SLE vs 7% RA), and cesarean delivery (48% SLE vs 30% RA). The majority of preterm births among women with SLE were indicated (70%), most commonly for pre-eclampsia or the health of the infant or mother. The majority of preterm births among women with RA, however, were spontaneous, primarily due to premature rupture of membranes.

Conclusion

Pre-eclampsia and maternal SLE activity appear to be the key drivers for the high rate of preterm birth and medically indicated delivery in SLE. This contrasts with RA, where preterm labor is most often due to spontaneous onset of labor.

Gestational weight gain in women with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective The objective of this study was to estimate the proportion of pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus meeting Institute of Medicine guidelines for gestational weight gain and determine correlates of adherence to guidelines. Methods Singleton, live births in the Hopkins Lupus Pregnancy Cohort 1987-2015 were included. Pre-pregnancy weight was the weight recorded 12 months prior to pregnancy/first trimester. Final weight was the last weight recorded in the third trimester. Adherence to Institute of Medicine guidelines (inadequate, adequate, or excessive) was based on pre-pregnancy body mass index. Fisher's exact test and analysis of variance determined factors associated with not meeting guidelines. Stepwise selection estimated predictors of gestational weight gain. Results Of the 211 pregnancies, 34%, 24% and 42% had inadequate, adequate and excessive gestational weight gain, respectively. In exploratory analyses, differences in Institute of Medicine adherence were observed by pre-pregnancy body mass index, race, elevated creatinine during pregnancy and pre-pregnancy blood pressure. Odds of inadequate and excessive gestational weight gain increased 12% with each 1 kg/m² increase in pre-pregnancy body mass index. Lower maternal education was associated with increased odds of inadequate and excessive gestational weight gain. Conclusions As in the general population, most women with systemic lupus erythematosus did not meet Institute of Medicine guidelines. Our results identified predictors of gestational weight gain to aid in targeted interventions to improve guideline adherence in this population.

Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Epratuzumab in the Treatment of Moderate-to- Severe Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Results From an Open-Label Extension Study

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective was to assess the long-term safety of repeated courses of epratuzumab therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus. Secondary objectives were to assess long-term efficacy and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

METHODS

Eligible patients from the 12-week, phase IIb, randomized, placebo-controlled EMBLEM study enrolled into the open-label extension (OLE) study, SL0008. In the SL0008 study, patients received 1,200 mg epratuzumab infusions at weeks 0 and 2 of repeating 12-week cycles, plus standard of care. Safety measures included treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and serious TEAEs. Efficacy measures included combined treatment response, the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group score, the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index score, and the physician's and patient's global assessment of disease activity. Total daily corticosteroid dose and HRQOL (by the Short Form 36 health survey) were also assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 113 of the 203 patients (55.7%) who entered the SL0008 study continued epratuzumab therapy until study closure (total cumulative exposure: 381.3 patient-years, median exposure: 845 days, and maximum exposure: 1,185 days/approximately 3.2 years). TEAEs were reported in 192 patients (94.6%); most common were infections and infestations (68.0%, 138 patients). Serious TEAEs were reported in 51 patients (25.1%), and 14 patients (6.9%) had serious infections. In patients treated for 108 weeks (n = 116), the median corticosteroid dose was reduced from 10.0 mg/day at OLE screening to 5.0 mg/day at week 108. Improvements in efficacy and HRQOL measures in EMBLEM were maintained in the OLE, while placebo patients exhibited similar improvements in disease activity upon a switch to epratuzumab.

CONCLUSION

Open-label epratuzumab treatment was well tolerated for up to 3.2 years, and associated with sustained improvements in disease activity and HRQOL, while steroids were reduced.

Breastfeeding in mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus

Introduction

Breastfeeding is known to improve the well-being of a mother and her infant, and about half of all new mothers breastfeed, but it is unknown how breastfeeding is pursued in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; lupus) patients. We sought to determine the rate of breastfeeding and the factors influencing this among women with lupus. In addition, we reassessed the current safety data in lactation of lupus medications.

Methods

Data were collected from lupus patients enrolled in a prospective registry who fulfilled the 2012 SLICC criteria, had a live birth, and for whom postpartum breastfeeding status was known. Data included physician assessments of lupus activity and medications, breastfeeding intentions during pregnancy and practice following pregnancy. The safety of medications in breastfed infants was assessed through a comprehensive review of LactMed, a national database about medications in lactation.

Results

A total of 51 pregnancies in 84 women with lupus were included in the study. Half of the lupus patients ( n = 25, 49%) chose to breastfeed. The rate of breastfeeding was not significantly affected by socioeconomic factors. In contrast, low postpartum lupus activity, term delivery, and a plan to breastfeed early in pregnancy were significantly associated with breastfeeding in lupus patients. In reviewing the most up-to-date data, the majority of lupus medications appear to have very minimal transfer into breast milk and are likely compatible with breastfeeding.

Conclusion

Half of women with lupus breastfed and most desire to breastfeed. Hydroxychloroquine, azathioprine, methotrexate, and prednisone have very limited transfer into breast milk and may be continued while breastfeeding.

The impact of cyclophosphamide on menstruation and pregnancy in women with rheumatologic disease

Background

While cyclophosphamide (CYC) can save the life of a young woman with severe rheumatologic disease, it may lead to the long-term side-effects of infertility and premature menopause. We compared the reproductive health histories of young women with rheumatologic disease with and without prior CYC exposure to identify the impact of this medication on this important component of health.

Methods

This research includes a case-series study of women diagnosed with SLE, vasculitis, and scleroderma prior to age 35. Each patient completed a questionnaire about desired childbearing, menstrual regularity, infertility, and pregnancy history. Women with prior CYC therapy were queried about the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH-a) for fertility preservation. The responses to this questionnaire were compared for women with and without CYC exposure.

Results

Of the 43 participants, 23 had prior CYC exposure and 20 were CYC naïve. The current age of these groups was similar (average age 32), but women with prior CYC were four years younger at diagnosis than women without CYC. More women with prior CYC had cessation of menses in the year prior to the study (30.4% vs 0%, p < 0.05). Of the women with prior CYC exposure, those with loss of menses were older at study enrollment, older at CYC treatment, and had a higher cumulative CYC dose than those with preserved menstruation. While more women with GnRH-a co-therapy during CYC had maintained menses, this difference did not reach statistical significance. Women with prior CYC without GnRH-a co-therapy had a higher frequency of nulliparity and had greater trouble conceiving than women with GnRH-a co-therapy. Few pregnancies were conceived following CYC exposure and all resulted in elective termination, miscarriage, or preterm birth.

Conclusion

In this cohort of young women with rheumatologic disease, more women with prior CYC than without had amenorrhea, nulliparity, and infertility. GnRH-a co-therapy may prevent these adverse effects of CYC.

Cyclophosphamide for lupus during pregnancy

Severe systemic lupus erythematosus often requires the use of cyclophosphamide in women of reproductive age. As cyclophosphamide is generally avoided during pregnancy because of its teratogenic risk, its impact on fetal survival is poorly understood. This is a case series of lupus patients exposed to cyclophosphamide during pregnancy. We reviewed pregnancies in patients with lupus seen at a large university hospital between October 1986 and September 2003. The pregnancies were evaluated prospectively for cyclophosphamide exposure, lupus activity, and fetal outcome. Comparison was made between pregnancies with severe lupus requiring cyclophosphamide and those that did not. We identified four pregnancies with cyclophosphamide exposure. Two pregnancies were inadvertently exposed to cyclophosphamide early in the first trimester; both resulted in first trimester miscarriages. Two patients were administered cyclophosphamide for severe lupus nephritis and thrombocytopenia during the second trimester. Soon after the administration of cyclophosphamide, both pregnancies ended with fetal demise. Pregnancies exposed to cyclophosphamide for severe lupus flare resulted in a higher rate of fetal losses than pregnancies with severe lupus but not requiring the drug (100% versus 31.25%). In conclusion we present four pregnancies exposed to cyclphosphamide, each ending with pregnancy loss. Based on our experience, the survival of the fetus is strongly in doubt when cyclophosphamide is required to treat lupus in the mother.