Behçet's Disease and Pregnancy: A Retrospective Case-control Study

Abstract

Background: Behçet's disease (BD) is a rare chronic multisystemic vasculitis of unknown etiology. It is usually diagnosed between the 2^nd and 4^th decades of life, so its association with pregnancy is not unusual. This study aims to characterize the evolution of pregnancy in a group of pregnant women with BD and the impact of this pathology in embryo-fetal morbidity. Methods: A retrospective case-control study included 49 pregnancies in women suffering from BD, followed in our institution. Pregnancy outcomes were compared with a control group of healthy pregnant women. Two controls per case were randomly selected. Statistical analysis used SPSS 25.0, and a p-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Forty-nine pregnancies were included in 27 patients with BD. BD exacerbation occurred in 32.6% of the pregnancies. There were no significant statistical differences between the two groups regarding the rate of preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia (p>0.05). In the BD group, we found a higher rate of miscarriage (24.5%) and fetal growth restriction (FGR, 13.3%, p<0.05). In the study group, 13 (32.5%) of the pregnant patients did not need treatment. The cesarean rate was significantly higher in the BD group (43.2% vs 20.4% in the control group, p<0.05), and there were no significant differences in median gestational age at the time of delivery (p>0.05). The birth weight of newborns did not differ significantly between the groups. There was no association of BD with maternal morbidity and neonatal complications. Conclusion: In this study, the majority of pregnant with BD did not present clinical exacerbation of their pathology. However, BD may have an adverse influence on pregnancy outcomes. FGR and miscarriage rates were significantly higher in the study group.

Keywords: Autoimmune disease; Behçet’s disease; fetal outcomes; pregnancy outcomes.