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A woman with rheumatoid arthritis whose condition did not improve during pregnancy

Nature Clinical Practice Rheumatology volume 1, pages 111–114 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Background A 25-year-old woman with a 3-year history of rheumatoid arthritis presented 6 months before her first planned pregnancy. At the time of presentation, she was being successfully treated with infliximab and methotrexate. During her pregnancy, the patient discontinued infliximab and methotrexate and her arthritis relapsed. She was treated with low-dose prednisone, sulfasalazine, nimesulide, and intra-articular corticosteroid injections. Oligohydramnios developed at gestational week 18.

Investigations Laboratory testing, ultrasonography of the fetus and of the patient's affected joints.

Diagnosis Active arthritis during pregnancy and oligohydramnios suspected to be caused by nimesulide.

Management Low-dose oral prednisone, sulfasalazine, repeated intra-articular corticosteroid injections. Infliximab and methotrexate were restarted immediately after delivery.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology and Allergology, University of Berne,

    Monika Østensen & Luigi Raio

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Berne, Switzerland

    Monika Østensen & Luigi Raio

Authors
  1. Monika Østensen
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  2. Luigi Raio
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Monika Østensen.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Cite this article

Østensen, M., Raio, L. A woman with rheumatoid arthritis whose condition did not improve during pregnancy. Nat Rev Rheumatol 1, 111–114 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncprheum0044

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncprheum0044

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