Maternal autoimmune disease and birth defects in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.

Meredith M HowleyMarilyn L BrowneAlissa R Van ZutphenSandra D RichardsonSarah J BlossomCheryl S BroussardSuzan L CarmichaelCharlotte M Druschelnull null

Published in: Birth defects research. Part A, Clinical and molecular teratology (2017)

Our findings suggest maternal autoimmune disease and treatment are not associated with the majority of birth defects, but may be associated with some defects, particularly encephalocele. Given the low prevalence of individual autoimmune diseases and the rare use of specific medications, we were unable to examine associations of specific autoimmune diseases and medications with birth defects. Other studies are needed to confirm these findings. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 106:950-962, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Keyphrases

gestational age
pregnancy outcomes
birth weight
multiple sclerosis
risk factors
pregnant women
physical activity
replacement therapy
weight gain