SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS IN PREGNANCY: A CASE REPORT OF OBSTETRIC COMPLICATIONS FROM ANTENATAL CARE SERVICE AT ST PAUL HOSPITAL MILLENIEUM MEDICAL COLLEGE.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Systemic lupus erythemateous is a chronic multisystem autoimuune disease that can have a wide array of disease manifestations. The prevalence of SLE in pregnancy varies globally but is estimated to be around 6 to 30 per 100,000 pregnancies in developed countries, with higher rates reported in populations of African, Hispanic, and Asian descent. Pregnancy in women with SLE poses substantial risks, including multiple obstetric complications and maternal complications. In Ethiopia, data on the prevalence of SLE and its obstetric implications are sparse, and despite advancements in SLE management and antenatal care, maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality remain significant concerns. Objective: To assess the prevalence of SLE and associated obstetric complications among pregnant women who received antenatal care service at SPHMMC over the past 5 years. Methods: A cross-sectional record review study was done at St Paul Millennium Medical College on randomly selected 384 records of pregnant women who received antenatal care service in the past 5 years. The records were selected by systematic random sampling and the data was collected using a structured checklist. The collected data was cleaned, coded and feed to Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version SPSS 27. Analysis involved descriptive statistics using frequencies, percentages and cross tabulation. Result: The overall magnitude of SLE was 0.3% (95 % CI: 0.008%-1.6%), which was 1 patient from 384 study participants. The study indicated that the participant with SLE had preeclampsia, preterm delivery, IUGR and IUFD which complicated her pregnancy. Further association and statistical analysis were not possible to make because of the rare occurrence of SLE among pregnant women in the study Conclusion and recommendation: According to the study among pregnant women who have ANC follow up at St Paul hospital millennium medical college SLE is not a common occurrence despite the rising prevalence of SLE among reproductive age group women in Sub Saharan Africa. But pregnancy is not contraindicated in SLE as a result we have to optimize our pre conceptional care as well as medical follow up for women with SLE in order to maintain the lupus quiescent before, during and after pregnancy to improve the outcome of the fetus and minimize complications as much as possible.