A recent study published in the JAAD International investigated the association between psoriasis and adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), and the differences in the association based on psoriasis severity (mild and moderate-to-severe).

This was a nationwide register-based, case-control study that included data between 1973 and 2017. Cases of APOs included – spontaneous abortion, intrauterine fetal death, ectopic pregnancy (EP) and stillbirth. Singleton live births served as controls. 

The results showed that EP was the only APO with a statistical association with psoriasis. The prevalence of EP was the greatest among women with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Meanwhile, the absolute risk of EP was 2.48% – which was higher for women with moderate-to-severe psoriasis compared to those without psoriasis.

The findings delineated a marked association between EP and psoriasis. EP is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the first trimester of pregnancy. Thus, the results have implications for implementing specific care for women with psoriasis who are planning pregnancy.

Source: Johansen CB, Egeberg A, Jimenez-Solem E, et al. Psoriasis and adverse pregnancy outcomes: A nationwide case-control study in 491,274 women in Denmark. JAAD Int. 2022;7:146-55.