Research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology has suggested that women with psoriasis may have an increased risk of adverse maternal and pregnancy outcomes.
Two population-based studies were conducted, with the first examining reproductive age, age at first birth, time between births and final parity in 1,667,583 women; 33,488 with psoriasis. The second looked at pregnancy characteristics and birth outcomes in 1,464,517 births, with 15,975 exposed to maternal psoriasis.
Researchers found that maternal psoriasis was associated with an increased risk of pregnancy hypertension (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.19-1.58), premature rupture of membranes (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.04-1.27), large for gestational age (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.21), cleft palate (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.07-2.66), and unspecified malformations (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01-1.16).
There was no evidence that fertility is negatively affected by psoriasis. Limitations of the research included no information on subjects’ lifestyle, disease severity, or type and duration of treatment.
The authors concluded, “Our findings add to a growing body of evidence that pregnancies in women with psoriasis need special monitoring.”
