Disease activity of juvenile idiopathic arthritis during and after pregnancy: A prospective multicenter study

Objective. To study disease activity in women with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) during and after pregnancy. There is little previous knowledge about this topic. Methods. Our study included 135 pregnancies in 114 women with JIA. Disease activity was assessed at 7 timepoints before, throughout, and after pregnancy with the Disease Activity Score–28–C-reactive protein 3 (DAS28-CRP3). Scores assessed at each visit were analyzed in a linear mixed model. The same statistical method was used to study self-reported physical function, pain, and mental health. Results. Almost 80% of the women were in remission or had low disease activity during and after pregnancy. Although disease activity was stable throughout the study period, we found that DAS28 6 weeks postpartum increased significantly compared to the first trimester (2.78 vs 2.51, p = 0.005) and third trimester (2.78 vs 2.56, p = 0.011), respectively. DAS28 decreased significantly between 6 weeks and 12 months postpartum (2.78 vs 2.54, p = 0.014). Self-reported mental health was significantly better 6 weeks postpartum than before pregnancy (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Mental Health subscale 80.7 vs 76.5, p = 0.039). Self-reported pain was stable. Physical function was significantly worse in the third trimester of pregnancy than postpartum (Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire 0.57 vs 0.39, p < 0.001). Conclusion. In women with JIA, disease activity was highest 6 weeks postpartum, but altogether low and stable in the period from planning pregnancy to 1 year after delivery

Psoriatic arthritis disease activity during and after pregnancy: A prospective multicenter study

Objective To study disease activity in women with peripheral psoriatic arthritis (PsA) during and after pregnancy. Previous knowledge on this topic is sparse. Methods The study included 108 pregnancies in 103 women with PsA from a Norwegian nationwide register. Disease activity was assessed prospectively at 7 time points before, throughout, and after pregnancy with the 3‐variable Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) using C‐reactive protein levels and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). Scores assessed at each time point were analyzed in a linear mixed model. We did additional analyses with “tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) in pregnancy” as a covariate. The same statistical method was used to study self‐reported physical function, pain, and mental health. Results Approximately 75% of the women were in remission or had low disease activity during and after pregnancy according to the DAS28‐CRP score. Although disease activity was altogether stable, we found that it decreased in pregnancy and increased within 6 months postpartum. Disease activity at 6 months postpartum was significantly higher than at 6 weeks postpartum (mean DAS28‐CRP score 2.71 versus 2.45; P = 0.016). Women using TNFi in pregnancy had significantly lower disease activity than women not using TNFi (mean DAS28‐CRP score at 6 months postpartum 2.22 versus 2.72; P = 0.043). BASDAI scores were also low and stable during pregnancy but significantly higher at 6 months postpartum than at 6 weeks postpartum (mean BASDAI score 3.69 versus 2.95; P = 0.013). Conclusion Studying women with PsA, we found that disease activity was highest at 6 months postpartum but altogether low and stable in the period from planning pregnancy to 1 year after delivery. Women using TNFi in pregnancy had significantly lower disease activity

Breastfeeding in women with systemic lupus erythematosus: results from a Norwegian quality register

Abstract Background Knowledge on breastfeeding among women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is sparse. We wanted to identify the frequency of breastfeeding in SLE, and to compare breastfeeding women with SLE to non-breastfeeding women to examine possible differences in disease characteristics and self-reported health data between the groups. Methods Prospective data on women with SLE from RevNatus, a consent-based Norwegian nationwide quality register was used for this study. Data were collected during January 2016 to September 2021. We used data registered at inclusion when planning pregnancy or in 1st trimester, and 6 weeks, 6 and 12 months after delivery. Breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding patients were compared according to demographic, serological and obstetric data as well as disease activity, medication, self-reported pain, and fatigue. Results A total of 114 pregnancies in 101 SLE women were included in the analysis. A majority of the women (78%) breastfed six weeks postpartum. Six and 12 months after delivery, breastfeeding rates were 54% and 30% respectively. Six weeks postpartum, non-breastfeeding women showed higher prevalence of emergency caesarean delivery (p = 0.038), preeclampsia (p = 0.056) and lower educational level (p = 0.046) compared to breastfeeding women. 12 months after delivery, we observed a higher frequency of multiparity among breastfeeding women (p = 0.017) compared to non-breastfeeding. Overall, we found low disease activity in both groups at all registrations in the follow-up, and disease activity did not differ between the groups. More than 70% of both breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding women used hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Conclusions Breastfeeding rate in women with SLE was high six weeks postpartum. Multiparous women breastfed longer than primiparas. Disease activity, use of HCQ, and self-reported health data were comparable between the groups. Our data indicate that health professionals should encourage women with SLE to breastfeed

Reproductive trends in females with inflammatory joint disease

Background: The study assessed birth trends per decade in offspring of females with inflammatory joint diseases (IJD) compared with women without IJD. Methods: This retrospective cohort study is based on data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway from 1967 to 2009. We investigated singleton births in females with IJD (n = 7502) and compared with births from the general population (n = 2 437 110). Four periods were examined: 1967–79, 1980–89, 1990–99 and 2000–09. In the logistic regression analysis adjustments were made for maternal age at delivery and birth order. Odds ratios were obtained for the associations between IJD and birth outcome for each period. Results: Females with IJD had in average 65 deliveries / year (0.08 % of all births) in the 1970ies and 274 deliveries / year (0.5 % of all births) from 2000 to 2009. Adjusted Odds ratios (aOR) for newborns small for gestational age were 1.5 (95 % CI 1.2, 1.9) in the earliest and 1.1 (95 % CI 0.9, 1.2) in the last period. Correspondingly, for birth weight < 2500 grams aOR decreased from 1.4 (95 % CI 1.0, 1.9) to 1.1 (95 % CI 0.9, 1.4). For preterm birth aOR was 1. 1 (95 % CI 0.8, 1.5) in the first and 1.3 (95 % CI (1.1, 1.5) in the last period. Conclusion: An increasing number of births among females with IJD were observed in the study period. Birth weights of newborns of IJD women approached to birth weights in the general population, but preterm birth remained a problem

Additional file 1: of Reproductive trends in females with inflammatory joint disease

Appendix with excluded codes in the patient and reference populations, according to the ICD-8 and ICD-10 systems. (DOC 24 kb

Factors associated with time to pregnancy in women with axial spondyloarthritis: A registry-based multicenter study

Objective To study time to pregnancy (TTP) and factors associated with TTP in women with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), compared to women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods We included 274 women with axSpA and 317 women with RA from the Norwegian nationwide registry RevNatus. For all the women, we had retrospectively collected data on TTP, and a subgroup also had prospectively collected data. We compared TTP in women with axSpA to women with RA using Kaplan‐Meier plots and log‐rank test. To identify factors associated with TTP, we used Cox proportional hazard regression. Results TTP exceeded 12 months in 21% of women with axSpA. In the subgroup followed prospectively, 32% had TTP which exceeded 12 months. Longer TTP was associated with older age, nulliparity, and longer disease duration, with hazard ratios of 0.97 (95% CI 0.94 to 1.00), 0.66 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.88), and 0.94 (95% CI 0.91 to 0.98) respectively. Disease activity, medication, and self‐reported health‐related quality of life were not associated with TTP. We found no statistically significant differences between axSpA and RA in regard to TTP. Conclusion In women with axSpA, longer TTP was associated with older age, nulliparity, and longer disease duration