Cardiovascular Health and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) primarily affect women during their reproductive years, and pregnancy can be enormously challenging in these women. Increased prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) in these women, such as preterm birth (PTB), small for gestational age (SGA), and preeclampsia, is well recognized. Additionally, there is evidence to suggest that pregnancy may contribute to the progression of preclinical autoimmune disease and APOs might be the clue to such progression.1 In women without ARDs, multiple studies have underscored a link between APOs and the mother’s increased risk of future cardiovascular disease (CVD).2-5 However, it is unclear whether similar risks exist in women with ARDs, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and whether CVD-related events somehow translate into APOs in these women. Quantifying and understanding underlying mechanisms are crucial, as cardiovascular (CV) morb
