[excerpts - read the full article here]
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061112094455.htm
Date:   November 15, 2006

Women with systemic lupus who become pregnant are at significantly greater
risk for death or other medical complications than are pregnant women
without lupus, Duke University Medical Center researchers have found in a
nationwide study of more than 18 million women.

The study, believed to be largest of its kind, suggests that pregnant
women with systemic lupus should be considered a high-risk population and
should be monitored closely by both a rheumatologist and an obstetrician
who specializes in caring for high-risk patients, the researchers said.

Clowse presented the findings on Sunday, Nov. 12, at the annual meeting of
the American College of Rheumatology, in Washington, D.C. The study was
funded by the National Institutes of Health's Building Interdisciplinary
Research Careers in Women's Health program.

"We don't want these results to scare women with lupus away from getting
pregnant, especially if they have a mild form of the disease," Clowse
said. "But these women really must plan their pregnancies. They may need
to change their medications before they get pregnant, and they really
shouldn't conceive when their lupus is active."

Clowse said the study's results are highly suggestive and should be taken
seriously within the health care community, but she added that the study
did have certain limitations.

On the plus side, the study examined a large number of patients, including
patients from a variety of clinical environments, and it compared
pregnancy results among women with and without lupus, she said.

However, she added, the study relied on analyzing hospital admission and
discharge data, rather than on analyzing individual patient records or on
examining the patients themselves.

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see also Andy's link for Hughes Syndrome