Publications by authors named "Marcela Ignacchiti Lacerda"
Complement levels during the first trimester predict disease flare and adverse pregnancy outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus: A network meta-analysis on 532 pregnancies.
Autoimmun Rev
December 2023
Article Synopsis
- The study explored the role of complement levels (C3 and C4) as potential biomarkers for monitoring disease activity and risks during pregnancies in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
- Data from 532 lupus patients showed that complement levels generally rise during pregnancy but are notably lower in those with prior lupus nephritis and flares, particularly in the first trimester.
- Lower or minimal increases in C3 and C4 levels during early pregnancy were linked to higher rates of complications and gestational flares, suggesting these complement levels could help predict risks for SLE patients.
Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the occurrence and risk factors associated with infections during pregnancy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study using the data of pregnant women who were followed up between 2011 and 2018 at a university hospital.
Results: The data of 221 pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus were analyzed.
Acute vulvar ulcer (Lipschütz's ulcer) is a rare lesion with local hyperimmunoreactivity triggered by infection, which is characterized by acute, painful, and necrotic ulcerations. This condition is usually found in non-sexually active adolescents, and it resolves spontaneously. We report a case of a 35-year-old woman who was diagnosed with COVID-19 who did not have severe symptoms, but had high levels of D-dimer for 9 days.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential impact of irreversible damage accrual in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and adverse maternal and/or fetal/neonatal outcomes.
Methods: Retrospective cohort study with SLE pregnant patients was carried out from January 2011 to January 2020 at the Hospital University Pedro Ernesto (HUPE) of the State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Irreversible damage was defined according to SLICC/ACR damage index (SDI).
Objectives: To analyse maternal variables associated with occurrence of small for gestational age (SGA) newborns in pregnancies of women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), considering clinical and laboratory characteristics prior to conception, during gestation and comorbidities.
Methods: Retrospective cohort study with SLE pregnant patients and singleton deliveries after 22 weeks. SGA newborn was defined as birth weight below 10th percentile and SLE activity at conception and during gestation was measured using the SLE Pregnancy Disease Activity Index (SLEPDAI).
This article describes three complicated cases in rheumatology and pregnancy. The first case elucidates the challenges in treating SLE in conjunction with pulmonary arterial hypertension, while the second case features an SLE-affected pregnancy with development of portal hypertension secondary to portal vein thrombosis related to APS. The third case is a pregnant woman with stable SLE who developed thrombotic microangiopathy caused by atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome, and failed to improve despite multiple measures including biopsy and elective preterm delivery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) are at increased risk for infections. Vaccination is a powerful tool to prevent infections, even in immunocompromised patients. Most non-live vaccines are immunogenic and safe in patients with SLE, even if antibody titres are frequently lower than those of healthy controls.
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