Rheumatoid arthritis tied to birth outcomes

Researchers examine pregnancy outcomes and factors associated with preterm delivery and fetal size.

1

Pregnancies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis had higher rates of preterm birth (16%) compared to matched controls (8%).
2

Small-for-gestational-age births below the 10th percentile occurred in 21% of RA pregnancies, compared to 11% in controls.
3

Moderate or high RA activity was documented in 27% of pregnancies, with glucocorticoid exposure in 46% of cases.
4

Maternal age and glucocorticoid exposure at doses of at least 10 mg/day were independently associated with preterm birth.
5

The study identified limitations including a small sample size, potential selection bias, and incomplete disease-activity data.