Maternal systemic lupus erythematosus and the risk of congenital cardiovascular abnormalities in offspring: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Kuaifa Fang, Lifu Tan, Lianyue Wu
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the risk of congenital cardiovascular abnormalities in offspring of mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Analyzing 53 studies with 33,694 pregnancies, the pooled incidence of structural cardiovascular malformations was found to be 3.29%, while congenital heart block (CHB) occurred in 1.29%. The study highlights a significant increased risk of structural malformations compared to healthy controls (OR 3.52).
Key findings
- Pooled incidence of structural cardiovascular malformations in offspring was 3.29%.
- Congenital heart block (CHB) prevalence was 1.29% in SLE pregnancies.
- Offspring of mothers with SLE had an OR of 3.52 for structural malformations compared to healthy controls.
- Higher CHB prevalence in anti-SSA/Ro-positive mothers was 2.64%.
Why it matters
Understanding the risks associated with maternal systemic lupus erythematosus is crucial for prenatal care, as it informs clinicians about potential congenital cardiovascular abnormalities in offspring, guiding monitoring and management strategies.