Autoimmune diseases and pregnancy: a narrative review

Abstract

Background and Aims: In recent years, great strides have been made in the field of autoimmune diseases. In this article, we review the autoimmune diseases in pregnancy.Materials and Methods: The findings of the current narrative review article were obtained through searching on valid medical sites including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and using the Google Scholar search engine without time limit until the end of 2021, with the "autoimmune disease and pregnancy" keywords.The inclusion criteria were English-language articles in the field of autoimmune diseases with more prevalence or complications in pregnancy included rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, and systemic vasculitis. Exclusion criteria were lack of access to the full article, documentation including commentary and letter to the editor. The results obtained from the title and abstract of the articles were checked by two evaluators.Results: These diseases show different reactions to pregnancy, so that some are cured, others remain unchanged, and several different types of it may worsen during this period. The reaction of autoimmune diseases to the hormonal and immunological changes of pregnancy shows the different pathophysiology of each disease. Proper consultation with relevant experts is the right solution for these people.Conclusion: Women should be informed about the possible risks of this type of pregnancy and the use of some medications during this period. Because the activity of this disease during pregnancy can be problematic, it is necessary to have a rheumatologist during pregnancy and even after, along with obstetrician