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Pregnancy

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Scleroderma

Abstract

Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma, SSc) is a connective tissue disease that occurs in women three to five times more frequently than men. With the mean age of onset of SSc symptoms in the early 40s, almost half of the women with this illness have the potential of becoming pregnant after the onset of their illness. Years ago, most women would have completed their pregnancies prior to this age, but more recently, women are frequently delaying pregnancy. Thus, there is an increased likelihood for a concurrent pregnancy in women who develop SSc early in their adult life. The interrelationships of SSc and pregnancy are important from both the effects of SSc on pregnancy and the effects pregnancy may have on underlying maternal SSc. This chapter reviews the literature relating to fertility, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes in women with SSc. The management of these high-risk pregnancies, the effects of pregnancy on SSc problems, and recommendations for managing medications in the pregnant SSc patient will be discussed. The use of this information in planned, well-supervised pregnancies should increase the likelihood of both the success of the pregnancy and the birth of a healthy infant and the stability of the mother.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology, and Allergy, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA

    Virginia Steen MD

  2. Medicine/Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Eliza F. Chakravarty MD, MS

Authors
  1. Virginia Steen MD
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  2. Eliza F. Chakravarty MD, MS
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Correspondence to Virginia Steen MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, E. Huron Street 240, Chicago, 60611-2909, Illinois, USA

    John Varga

  2. Royal Free and University College, Medical School, University College London, Rowland Street, London, NW3 2PF, United Kingdom

    Christopher P. Denton

  3. School of Medicine, Div. Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University, Eastern Avenue 5200, Baltimore, 21224, Maryland, USA

    Fredrick M. Wigley

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Steen, V., Chakravarty, E.F. (2012). Pregnancy. In: Varga, J., Denton, C., Wigley, F. (eds) Scleroderma. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5774-0_45

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5774-0_45

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-5773-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-5774-0

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