Rheumatic diseases have a predilection for women and often affect women of childbearing age. Management of pregnancy in rheumatic diseases differ from that of the general population.
Pregnancy in women with rheumatic diseases may be associated with an increased risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. The risk of pregnancy complications depends on the diagnosis of rheumatic disease, disease activity, medications and presence of autoantibodies.
The SGH Rheumatology Obstetrics Clinic (ROC) specialises in the evaluation and management of pregnant women with rheumatic diseases. This is a one stop combined clinic whereby pregnant women are reviewed together with the Rheumatologist and Obstetrician to provide holistic and evidence-based care throughout the pregnancy. Given the complexity and multi-organ involvement of patients with rheumatic diseases, patients are followed-up closely to ensure optimal disease control during pregnancy.
The SGH ROC also specialises in pre-pregnancy counselling for women with rheumatic diseases which includes evaluation of medication use in pregnancy to reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, optimal timing of pregnancy, contraception use and management of women during fertility treatment.
Other members of the SGH ROC team include the Rheumatology and Obstetrics nurses and research coordinators who assist in the care of our patients.
Whilst there’s no cure for rheumatic diseases, there are increasing advances in the optimal management of pregnancy in women with rheumatic diseases to ensure that the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes is reduced.
There is also growing literature on the importance of pregnancy- compatible medications to ensure that the rheumatic disease is quiescent or inactive during pregnancy. However, we still have a long way to go in understanding the impact of rheumatic diseases on maternal and fetal outcomes.
We hope to make a difference in the lives of our patients through research. Our team has built a database on pregnant women with rheumatic diseases to help improve our understanding on the interplay of the diagnosis of rheumatic diseases, medications, antibody profile on pregnancy outcomes.
Find out more on our Department’s research here >
