Abstract

Autoimmune diseases encompass a diverse array of disorders that disturb the optimal functioning of the immune system, which is to eliminate the ‘foreign or/and dangerous’ to mistakenly target the body’s own tissues. The exact causes and etiologies of these diseases are multifactorial and mostly still unclear. Ro/SSA autoantibodies and La/SSB, could be found in Sjögren’s disease (SJ), systemic lupus (SLE) and other autoimmune disorders. Smoking, stress, UV exposure, vitamin D deficiency, and other genetic and environmental factors have been identified as risk factors for rheumatic diseases. Over the years, an ever-increasing incidence of these diseases has been observed in the general population, with the female sex being at increased risk for their occurrence. This fact raises the question of what should be the management of these pathological entities during pregnancy. Taking into account the very significant impact on the quality of paitients’daily life and the seemingly augmented prevalence of autoimmune diseases. as well as their preference in the female population, the reasonable question arises as to what should be the optimal management of these diseases in the context of pregnancy. Given the limited data of the global medical community regarding the etiological factors and mechanisms that trigger the onset of rheumatic diseases, the management of pregnant women is a complex conundrum that health professionals are challenged to face and solve.

Key words: anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB autoantibodies, autoimmune diseases, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, general population.