Pregnancy and rheumatoid arthritis: an overview. |
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Authors: | T D Spector J A Da Silva |
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Affiliation: | Department of Rheumatology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London. |
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Abstract: | The literature concerning the relationship of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to pregnancy is reviewed. The amelioration of RA during pregnancy is a complex process. No specific factor that causes amelioration and is amenable to therapeutic intervention has been identified. Either RA is associated with lower fertility/fecundity, or pregnancy induces a protective effect against the development of the disease. The biological mechanism of these findings is not established. |
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