Evaluation of pregnancy outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with the general population: results from a French national prospective and matched study
Authors' conclusion
In this contemporary cohort mostly followed in tertiary care centres, pregnancies in women with RA remained at increased risk of preterm birth and SGA. Exposure to systemic glucocorticoids at doses ≥10 mg/day emerged as a risk factor for preterm birth, although a contribution of maternal disease activity cannot be entirely excluded.
Study context
- Population
- Pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), French prospective multicentre cohort, 2015–2021 (mean maternal age 33.7±5.0 years; 57.6% nulliparous)100 pregnancies in 90 women with RA
- Participants
- 100 vs 359
- Exposure
- Pregnancies in women with RA vs matched general population women
- RAn = 100
- Controlsn = 359reference
- Outcome
- Adverse pregnancy outcomes
Methodological detailsmulticentre, matched comparison with general population (French perinatal surveys 2016 and 2021), multivariable logistic regression, During pregnancy, 46% received GC and 39% bDMARDs
- Multicentre
- Matched comparison with general population (French perinatal surveys 2016 and 2021)
- Multivariable logistic regression
- During pregnancy, 46% received GC and 39% bDMARDs
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Each group vs controlsEstimate (95% CI)
RA
OR (preterm birth) 2.08(1.04–4.09)
RA
OR (SGA 10th percentile) 2.11(1.12–3.94)
RA
OR (SGA 3rd percentile) 3.21(1.13–9.44)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Factors associated with small for gestational age (SGA): nulliparity
- Nulliparity, aOR
- 4.38 (95% CI 1.12 to 9.78)
Factors associated with preterm birth
- Maternal age, aOR
- 1.14 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.30)
- GC ≥10 mg/day during pregnancy, aOR
- 4.91 (95% CI 1.30 to 10.59)
Original publication
Evaluation of pregnancy outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with the general population: results from a French national prospective and matched study. RMD Open. Published 8 July 2026. doi:10.
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