Caesarean section in a case of systemic lupus erythematosus

• Main Authors: Varsha Vyas, Deepika Shukla, Surekha Patil, Shubha Mohite
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Anaesthesia
• Subjects: Autoimmune; LSCS; pregnancy; systemic lupus erythematosus
• Online Access: http://www.ijaweb.org/article.asp?issn=0019-5049;year=2014;volume=58;issue=2;spage=193;epage=195;aulast=Vyas

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease most frequently found in women of child bearing age and may co-exist with pregnancy. Disease exacerbation, increased foetal loss, neonatal lupus and an increased incidence of pre-eclampsia are the major challenges. Its multisystem involvement and therapeutic interventions like anticoagulants, steroids and immunosuppressive agents pose a high risk for both surgery and anaesthesia. We describe successful management of an antinuclear antibody (ANA) positive parturient with bad obstetric history who underwent elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.