Placental pathology in systemic lupus erythematosus: A prospective study

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 179; no. 1; pp. 226 - 234
• Main Authors: Magid, Margret S., Kaplan, Cynthia, Sammaritano, Lisa R., Peterson, Margaret, Druzin, Maurice L., Lockshin, Michael D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Mosby, Inc 01.07.1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid - blood; anticardiolipin antibody; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - immunology; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - pathology; Medical sciences; Placenta; Placenta - pathology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; systemic lupus erythematosus; systemic lupus erythematosus; Placenta; anticardiolipin antibody; pregnancy; Human; Immunopathology; Connective tissue disease; Skin disease; Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome; Pregnancy disorders; Cardiovascular disease; Autoimmune disease; Hemopathy; Risk analysis; Placenta diseases; Vascular disease; Prospective; Platelet; Systemic disease; Complication; Female; Lupus erythematosus; Disseminated
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9378(98)70277-7

OBJECTIVES: Systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid antibody, often identified in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, are associated with poor pregnancy outcome. This study distinguishes between the effect of each of these factors on gestational outcome and placental pathologic conditions in pregnant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-seven pregnancies and 40 placentas from 33 women with systemic lupus erythematosus were studied prospectively. RESULTS: Systemic lupus erythematosus alone, but not systemic lupus erythematosus activity, was associated with increased spontaneous abortions, preterm gestations, and fetal growth restriction. Placental correlates were ischemic-hypoxic change, decidual vasculopathy, decidual and fetal thrombi, chronic villitis, and decreased placental weight. Extensive infarction and fetal death were important antiphospholipid antibody–related findings. CONCLUSIONS: Decidual vasculopathy/coagulopathy appears to mediate the antiphospholipid antibody–related and much of the systemic lupus erythematosus–related deleterious effect on the placenta and gestational outcome. The presence of antiphospholipid antibody largely, but not invariably, predicts fetal death. Antiphospholipid antibody–independent chronic villitis may represent a second mechanism of systemic lupus erythematosus–related change. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1998;179:226-34.)