ABSTRACT

KEY WORDS: systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, ovarian stimulation, infertility, IVF, pregnancy

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an inammatory autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies and the presence of clinical manifestations affecting multiple organs.1 SLE is a chronic disorder with an unpredictable course, alternating between periods of ares with remissions. The prevalence ranges from 20 to 150 cases per 100,000 persons and appears to be increasing due to better diagnosis and survival. The disease occurs nine times more often in women than in men, especially in women of childbearing age, and tends to be more severe among the black population. Due to earlier diagnosis and advances in treatments, the current life expectancy of such patients has improved to approximately 80% at 15 years. Even with these advances, however, one-third of SLE-related deaths in the United States occur in patients younger than 45 years due to active disease, cardiovascular complications, or infections secondary to immunosuppressive treatment.