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Successful pregnancy after cyclophosphamide therapy for lupus nephritis

  • Materno-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often requires administration of cyclophosphamide (CYC), especially for severe glomerulonephritis. As this disease usually affects young women in reproductive age, pregnancy, though not recommended may occur. The teratogenic effects of this drug make pregnancy prognosis and fetal survival indeterminate.

Methods

We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of five patients with SLE who received inadvertently CYC during pregnancy and analyzed fetal outcome.

Results

All patients were exposed at the first trimester. Two patients suffered miscarriages, two went to full term and one presented premature labor.

Conclusion

In spite of potential successful pregnancies after CYC exposure, this drug has teratogenic effects and prescription must be avoided during the pregnancy period. At the same time, the occurrence of these reported unplanned pregnancies strengthen the need of improving patients’ education on pregnancy risks during immunosuppressive treatment.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest and they have full control of all data. Also, they agree to allow the Journal to review their data if necessary.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Dois de Dezembro, 131/702 Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22220-040, Brazil

    Gabriela Lannes, Fernanda R. Elias, Bernardo Cunha, Evandro M. Klumb, Elisa M. N. Albuquerque & Francinne M. Ribeiro

  2. Division of Obstetrics, Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Nilson Jesus

Authors
  1. Gabriela Lannes
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  2. Fernanda R. Elias
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  3. Bernardo Cunha
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  4. Nilson Jesus
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  5. Evandro M. Klumb
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  6. Elisa M. N. Albuquerque
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  7. Francinne M. Ribeiro
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francinne M. Ribeiro.

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Lannes, G., Elias, F.R., Cunha, B. et al. Successful pregnancy after cyclophosphamide therapy for lupus nephritis. Arch Gynecol Obstet 283 (Suppl 1), 61–65 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-011-1859-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-011-1859-0

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