Adverse pregnancy outcomes up for women with psoriasis

(HealthDay)—Pregnancies in women with psoriasis have an increased risk for adverse outcomes, including preeclampsia and stillbirth, according to a study published online Nov. 18 in the Journal of Dermatology.

Yu-Heui Huang, M.D., from Chung Shan Medical University in Taichung, Taiwan, and colleagues examined maternal and fetal outcomes for mothers with psoriasis using a population-based nationwide health registrar database. A total of 2,350,330 singleton pregnancies were identified from 2001 to 2012, including 4,058 singleton pregnancies among psoriasis patients.

The researchers found that the adjusted odds ratios (95 percent confidence intervals) were 1.57 (1.31 to 1.89), 1.5 (1.28 to 1.75), and 1.57 (1.36 to 1.82) for preeclampsia, pregnancy-related hypertension, and severe postpartum hemorrhage, respectively, for pregnancies among psoriasis patients. The adjusted odds ratios (95 percent confidence intervals) were 1.48 (1.11 to 1.96), 1.27 (1.14 to 1.41), 1.13 (1.02 to 1.25), 1.12 (1.02 to 1.23), and 1.09 (0.96 to 1.25) for stillbirth, low birthweight of less than 2,500 g, preterm labor, small for gestational age, and fetal distress, respectively, among offspring of women with psoriasis. Babies born to mothers with psoriasis also had lower Apgar scores.

"We found in this study that pregnancies in women with psoriasis were at higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including stillbirth and postpartum hemorrhage," the authors write. "However, despite a high [relative] risk, most pregnancies are successful."

One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.