New-onset systemic lupus erythematosus during pregnancy: A challenge in diagnosis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multi-organ autoimmune disease that occurs predominantly among reproductive age women. When SLE is newly diagnosed during pregnancy or puerperium, it is known as new-onset SLE during pregnancy. Delayed or missed diagnosis of new-onset SLE during pregnancy due to similar clinical manifestation of SLE with normal physiological changes of pregnancy and lupus nephritis with preeclampsia have drawn attention toward this topic. Furthermore, new-onset SLE during pregnancy has major organ involvement with poor maternal and fetal outcomes. Knowledge and awareness of this complex disease allows physicians to more effectively address and less likely for patient to suffer from misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. This article will briefly review important issues in new-onset SLE during pregnancy and describes challenges to overcome its diagnosis.