Association of preterm outcome with maternal systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Maternal systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is at greater risk of pregnancy complications and is associated with increased risk of preterm delivery. However hardly any study has looked at the influence of SLE on the outcomes of preterm infants. This study aimed to explore the influence of SLE on the outcomes of preterm infants. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, preterm infants born to mothers with SLE from Shanghai Children’s Medical Center during 2012 to 2021 were enrolled. Infants were excluded if they were died during hospitalization or has major congenital anomalies and neonatal lupus. Exposure was defined as mother diagnosed SLE before or during pregnancy. Maternal SLE group was matched with Non-SLE group by gestational age, birth weight and gender. Clinical data has been extracted from patients’ records and registered. Major morbidities of premature and biochemical parameters in the two groups were compared using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: One hundred preterm infants born to 95 mothers with SLE were finally enrolled. The mean (standard deviation) of gestational age and birth weight were 33.09 (7.28) weeks and 1768.50 (423.56) g respectively. There was no significant difference in major morbidities between SLE group and non-SLE group. Compared with non-SLE group, SLE off-spring had significantly lower leukocytes, neutrophiles after birth, neutrophils and platlet in one week (mean difference: -2.825, -2.001, -0.842, -45.469, respectively). Among SLE group, lower birth weight and smaller gestational age were observed in SLE mothers with disease active during pregnancy, kidney involved, blood system involved and not taking Aspirin during pregnancy. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, exposure to aspirin during pregnancy reduced the risk of very preterm birth and increased the incidence of survive without major morbidities among preterm infants born to SLE mothers. CONCLUSION: Born to mothers with SLE may not increase the risk of major premature morbidities, but the hematologic profile of SLE preterm infants may be different from preterm infants born to women without SLE. The outcome of SLE preterm infants is associated with maternal SLE status and may benefit from maternal aspirin administration. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13052-023-01436-5.