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Scientific Abstracts
Oral Presentations
Bench to Bedside: The complement system in rheumatic diseases
OP0002 LOW COMPLEMENT LEVELS IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER PREDICT DISEASE FLARE IN SLE PREGNANCY: A NETWORK META-ANALYSIS ON 532 PATIENTS.
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  1. M. Radin1,
  2. F. Crisafulli2,
  3. I. Cecchi1,
  4. E. Klumb3,
  5. G. De Jesùs3,
  6. M. A. Saavedra4,
  7. G. V. Reyes-Navarro5,
  8. L. Iaccarino6,
  9. M. Larosa6,
  10. G. Moroni7,
  11. F. Tamborini7,
  12. D. Roccatello1,
  13. L. Andreoli2,
  14. C. Chighizola8,
  15. S. Sciascia1
  1. 1University of Turin, Clinical and Biological Sciences, Turin, Italy
  2. 2University of Brescia, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Brescia, Italy
  3. 3Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rheumatology Department, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  4. 4Hospital de Especialidades Dr. Antonio Fraga Mouret, Rheumatology Department, Mexico City, Mexico
  5. 5Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, School of Medicine Puebla Campus, Puebla, Mexico
  6. 6University of Padova, Rheumatology Unit, Padova, Italy
  7. 7Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Rozzano, Italy
  8. 8ASST G. Pini & CTO, Pediatric Rheumatology, Milano, Italy

Abstract

Background The complement system is a key-player in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); its decreases correlate with disease activity and precedes flare. Since synthesis of complement proteins increase during gestational course, it is debated whether complement levels exert a prognostic role in pregnant women with SLE.

Objectives We performed a network meta-analysis to assess the prognostic role of complement in pregnant SLE women, to evaluate the possible role of complement fluctuations during pregnancies.

Methods Data from available prospective studies (Jan 2002-Dec 2020) investigating pregnancies in at least 50 SLE patients, excluding miscarriages before 12 weeks, were pooled together. After a systematic literature search, corresponding authors of 19 retrieved studies meeting inclusion criteria were invited to contribute with additional data, including complement levels [6 months before pregnancy, at conception, 1st trimester (T1), 2nd trimester (T2), 3rd trimester (T3) and 3 months after delivery].

Results A total of 532 SLE women from four eligible studies were included in the analysis [1-4]. Lupus Nephritis (LN) was diagnosed in 237 patients (44.5%) and Antiphospholipid Syndrome in 68 (12.8%). A total of 170 patients (32%) experienced a flare during pregnancy, defined as need of new Immunosuppressants or increase of prednisone > 9 mg/day.

Patients with LN had significantly lower mean levels of complement (C3 at conception; C3 at T1; C3 after 3 months of delivery; C4 at all timepoints except for C4 at T3). SLE patients who experienced flares during pregnancy had significantly lower mean levels of complement (all timepoints for both C3 and C4). Table 1 shows the mean C3 and C4 levels in different timepoints according to diagnosis and flare during pregnancy. The lowest levels of complement were observed in patients with a concomitant diagnosis of LN and presence of flare, particularly during the T1 (Figure 1). Nevertheless, both in LN and flare groups the lowest levels of C3 and C4 were documented at T1.

View this table:
Table 1.

Complement levels at the different timepoints according to diagnosis or presence of flare (bold results are statistically significant)

Figure 1.
Figure 1.

Complement Levels during time in patients with Lupus Nephritis and presence, or absence, of flare.

Conclusion In this prospective large cohort of SLE patients low C3/C4 levels, particularly in T1, were associated with a higher frequency of flare. Lowering levels of complement, especially in T1, even within normal range might alert the treating clinicians in predicting disease course and consequently avoid flares, especially in LN.

References [1]Saavedra MÁ et al. Int J Rheum Dis 2020

[2]Moroni G et al. J Autoimmun 2016

[3]Rodrigues BC et al. Lupus 2019

[4]Borella E et al. Immunol Res 2014

Disclosure of Interests None declared

https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-eular.2631

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