Interpretation on the 2022 Chinese Guideline for the Management of Pregnancy and Reproduction in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematous

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease most prevalent in child-bearing young women. With the progress of treatment, the survival rate of SLE patients has been remarkably improved. Reproduction management of SLE patients has become one of the most important parts of SLE patients management. However, due to the complicated inter-reaction between SLE disease and the related concurrent problems, reproduction management of SLE patients remains a big challenge. Led and guided by the National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases, the National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chinese Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Treatment and Research Group and Chinese Research Committee of Pregnancy and Reproduction in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases, the first guideline dedicated to the management of pregnancy and reproduction in patients with systemic lupus erythematous has been developed. This guideline is composed of 13 evidence-based recommendations, including pre-pregnant preparation (pre-pregnant consultation, risk assessment, indications and contraindications for pregnancy and the choices of assisted reproduction technology), monitoring and treatment strategy during pregnancy, monitoring and complications identification and management of the fetus, and recommendations for disease follow-up after delivery and feeding of the neonates. These recommendations, covering the whole process of pregnancy of SLE patients, are aimed to improve the success rate of pregnancy of SLE patients and decrease the morbidity and mortality of SLE patients and their fetus.