A study presented at the American College of Rheumatology Convergence found that women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a a significantly higher rate of preterm births in patients compared to a control group matched to RA pregnancies based on age, parity, location, and twin status to control for variables linked to adverse outcomes.

Researchers used data from the GR2 national cohort (2014-2021) and the French national perinatal surveys. After exclusions, 83 RA pregnancies were matched with 332 control pregnancies. The RA cohort had a rate of preterm births of 16.9%, while the control group rate of preterm births was 6.3% (p < 0.01).

Only 1 case of extreme prematurity was noted, and no cases of very extreme prematurity were observed in RA pregnancies. Other outcomes, such as gestational diabetes, macrosomia, gestational hypertension, low birth weight, severe postpartum hemorrhage, maternal or neonatal ICU transfer, and congenital malformations, showed no significant differences between the RA and control groups, despite corticosteroid use during pregnancy in 42.1% of patients with RA.

The results underscore an increased risk of preterm birth in women with RA, aligning with findings from other countries and reinforcing the need for heightened obstetric surveillance in this population. This study provides critical information for health care providers in managing pregnancies complicated by RA, emphasizing the importance of preemptive measures and close monitoring to address potential adverse outcomes.

Reference
Hamroun S. Higher risk of preterm delivery in women with rheumatoid arthritis: a matched comparative analysis of the GF2 prospective cohort and the french national perinatal surveys. Presented at: American College of Rheumatology. November 14-19, 2024; Washington, DC.