MedPage Today reports The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has issued guidelines for the management of reproductive health in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, addressing concerns ranging from contraception to medication use during pregnancy and assisted reproductive technology. Special considerations also were addressed for women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or those who are positive for antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies.

HSS Physician-in-Chief and Chief of Rheumatology, Mary K. Crow, MD, who did not author the guidelines, provided commentary on their need and the anticipated implications for treating women with these conditions moving forward. “Perhaps the most important thing about the guidelines is that they were developed at all, because physicians really have been needing some guidance on how to deal with high-risk situations such as pregnancy in patients with lupus or antiphospholipid syndrome," noted Dr. Crow. "The literature has been growing that shows the importance of having disease activity under control at the time you become pregnant in order to have good outcomes,” she added, concluding, “The guidelines also send a message that there's not in every situation data to clearly provide guidance, and research will evolve over time."

Read the article at Medpagetoday.com.