Neurological
Hypertensive pregnancy disorders associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women with SLE
Hypertensive pregnancy disorders (HDPs) in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular outcomes, including stroke and acute myocardium, according to a brief report published in Arthritis Care & Research.
Previous studies have shown that HDPs are linked to an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease in women. In addition, preeclampsia has also been observed to be associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular events, including stroke.
The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between HDPs and the risk of cardiovascular disease in women with and without SLE.
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Using the Swedish Medical Birth Register, all single pregnancies between 1987 and 2012 were identified. Data from the National Patient Registry were used to identify discharge diagnoses for HDPs, cardiovascular morbidity, and hypertension.
A total of 450 singleton first deliveries in women with SLE and 2890 singleton first deliveries in women without SLE were identified. Hypertensive pregnancy disorders were reported in 90 out of 450 women with SLE compared to 200 out of 2,890 women without SLE (20% versus 7%).
Compared to women with SLE without HDP, those with SLE with HDP had twice the rate of post-pregnancy cardiovascular outcomes. In addition, HDPs were associated with a three-fold higher incidence of hypertension in women with and without SLE.
The HDPs explained 10% of the association between SLE and cardiovascular outcomes and 20% of the association between SLE and hypertension.
Limitations of the study included limited performance due to sparse events and the sole use of ICD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases) codes to evaluate results and lack of data on antiphospholipid antibodies.
“In women with and without SLE, HDPs were associated with a three-fold higher rate of hypertension. In SLE, women with HDP were twice as likely to develop cardiovascular outcomes as women without HDP, ”the researchers concluded.
reference
Simard JF, Rossides M, Arkema EV, et al. Maternal hypertensive disorders in pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus and future cardiovascular outcomes. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2021; 73 (4): 574- 579. doi: 10.1002 / acr.24160
This article originally appeared on Rheumatology Advisor