Breastfeeding in women with systemic lupus erythematosus: results from a Norwegian quality register.

Background: Knowledge on breastfeeding among women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is sparse. We wanted to identify the frequency of breastfeeding in SLE, and to compare breastfeeding women with SLE to non-breastfeeding women to examine possible differences in disease characteristics and self-reported health data between the groups.

Methods: Prospective data on women with SLE from RevNatus, a consent-based Norwegian nationwide quality register was used for this study.

Caesarean section in women with axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis: a population-based study.

Background: There is sparse documentation on pregnancy outcomes in women with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Data on disease activity are often lacking, preventing the direct investigation of the effect of inflammation on pregnancy outcomes. A caesarean section (CS) implies a higher risk for complications than vaginal delivery.

Nurses experience increased clinical and organisational competence by working with a medical quality register, RevNatus - a qualitative study.

Background: RevNatus is a consent-based, nationwide medical quality register that collects data on patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases during pregnancy and one year postpartum. The entering of data takes place in outpatient clinics in rheumatology wards in hospitals. The aim of this study is to explore how rheumatology nurses experience organizing and working with the medical quality register RevNatus in addition to their normal clinical patient-care tasks.

Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in women with axial spondyloarthritis: pooled data analysis from the European Network of Pregnancy Registries in Rheumatology (EuNeP).

Objective: To investigate outcome and course of pregnancies in women with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in a pooled data analysis of pregnancy registries in rheumatology.

Methods: Prospectively followed women with axSpA, fulfilling ASAS classification criteria and for whom a pregnancy outcome was reported, were eligible for the analysis. Anonymised data of four registries was pooled.

Rehabilitation in warm climate for young adults with inflammatory arthritis: A 12-month randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To investigate if an intensive rehabilitation programme, including intensive exercise and patient education, for young adults with inflammatory arthritis, conducted in a warm climate, has long-term effects on general health status compared with usual care.

Design: Open randomized controlled trial.

Patients: A total of 64 patients with inflammatory arthritis, aged 20-35 years.

Women with systemic lupus erythematosus get pregnant more easily than women with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To examine possible differences in the ability to get pregnant and time to pregnancy (TTP) in women with SLE and RA, and to study possible influencing factors.

Methods: Data from RevNatus, a Norwegian nationwide prospective observational register including women with inflammatory rheumatic diseases when planning pregnancy or after conception, was used. We compared rate of achieved pregnancy, the pregnancy outcomes live birth or pregnancy loss, and TTP between women with SLE (n = 53) and women with RA (n = 180).

Disease Activity During Pregnancy and the First Year Postpartum in Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: Disease activity measured by validated methods has been sparsely examined during and after pregnancy in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to describe the longitudinal course of disease activity during pregnancy and the first year postpartum using the Lupus Activity Index in Pregnancy (LAI-P).

Methods: RevNatus is a nationwide Norwegian prospective observational register including women diagnosed with inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

State of the art: Reproduction and pregnancy in rheumatic diseases.

Throughout the last decade, increasing awareness has been raised on issues related to reproduction in rheumatic diseases including basic research to clarify the important role of estrogens in the etiology and pathophysiology of immune/inflammatory diseases. Sub- or infertility is a heterogeneous condition that can be related to immunological mechanisms, to pregnancy loss, to disease burden, to therapy, and to choices in regard to family size. Progress in reproductive medicine has made it possible for more patients with rheumatic disease to have children.

Patient satisfaction with nursing consultations in a rheumatology outpatient clinic: a 21-month randomised controlled trial in patients with inflammatory arthritides.

Objective: To study the effect of individual nursing consultations in patients treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in a rheumatology outpatient setting.

Methods: Patients with inflammatory arthritides (IA) who had started with a DMARD regimen 3 months before were randomised to two different follow-up consultation systems: either follow-up by a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) or by a medical doctor (MD) in rheumatology 3, 9 and 21 months after randomisation. The primary outcome was patient satisfaction measured by Leeds Satisfaction Questionnaire (LSQ).

Coping with arthritis is experienced as a dynamic balancing process. A qualitative study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the process of coping in people living with chronic inflammatory arthritis. Semi-structured individual face-to-face interviews with 26 persons having rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or unspecified polyarthritis were performed. The informants were asked how they experienced to live with arthritis and how they coped with challenges due to the arthritis.

Performance in leisure-time physical activities and self-efficacy in females with rheumatoid arthritis.

The purpose of this study was to examine leisure-time physical activities (LTPAs) and their association with self-efficacy in females with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n = 238). Their self-reported performance in LTPAs was measured by the Interest Checklist and efficacy beliefs by using the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scales (ASES). LTPAs were classified as active or less active according to how many LTPAs they performed.

[Systemic lupus erythematosus and pregnancy].

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often starts in women of fertile age. Due to the unpredictable nature of the disease and the increased risk of the disease flaring up during pregnancy, women with SLE have previously often been advised to avoid pregnancy. This summary reviews current insights in pregnancy management of women with SLE.

Drug insight: Anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy for inflammatory arthropathies during reproduction, pregnancy and lactation.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists are widely used to reduce disease activity and joint damage, and to improve health-related quality of life in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or psoriatic arthritis. To date, no increased risk of embryotoxicity or teratogenicity, or adverse pregnancy outcome (such as birth defects, premature birth, and low birth weight) has been reported in patients with inflammatory arthropathies treated with anti-TNF therapy, compared with the general population. However, the available data are limited, and methotrexate, which is commonly used in combination with anti-TNF drugs, is teratogenic.

Pregnancy outcome in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome. a case-control study.

Objective: To study the outcome of pregnancy in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

Methods: A questionnaire covering demographic data and the outcome of pregnancies was answered by 58 patients with pSS and 157 controls. For 36 patients and 93 controls, we analyzed detailed data about pregnancy, birth, and status of the newborn from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MFR) for birth order one, 2, and 3.

[Reversible infertility from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs].

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors may interfere with ovulation and the rupture of the follicle, causing reversible infertility.

Method: Literature review.

Results: Reversible infertility is shown both in animal and human studies of these drugs.