Pregnant Women With Psoriatic Disease Are at Higher Risk of Adverse Outcomes

Pregnant women with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis are at increased risk of cesarean delivery, preterm birth, and other adverse maternal events, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Rheumatology.

“Close monitoring of the mothers’ clinical status before and during pregnancy is decidedly required in daily practice,” researchers advised.

The meta-analysis included 16 observational studies of pregnancy outcomes in women with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis compared with the general population.

Compared with other women, pregnant women with psoriatic disease had significantly increased risk of several adverse maternal outcomes. Pooled analysis revealed odds ratios of 1.33 for caesarean delivery, 1.32 for preterm birth, 1.28 for (pre)eclampsia, 1.19 for gestational diabetes, and 1.30 for gestational hypertension.

However, no statistically higher risks were observed for fetal complications, researchers reported, such as small for gestational age, low birth weight, congenital malformations, Apgar score below 7, neonatal mortality, or stillbirth.

Results for maternal outcomes were similar for women with psoriasis and women with psoriatic arthritis, the study found. Although the magnitude of risk estimates appeared greater with psoriatic arthritis, the difference was not statistically significant.

—Jolynn Tumolo

Reference

Xie W, Huang H, Ji L, Zhang Z. Maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology. 2021;60(9):4018-4028.