Context: Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED; also known as autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1) has a severe, unpredictable course. Autoimmunity and disease components may affect fertility and predispose to maternal and fetal complications, but pregnancy outcomes remain unknown.
Objective: To assess fetal and maternal outcomes and course of clinical APECED manifestations during pregnancy in women with APECED.
Design and setting: A multicenter registry-based study including 5 national patient cohorts.
Patients: 321 females with APECED.
Main outcome measure: Number of pregnancies, miscarriages, and deliveries.
Results: Forty-three patients had altogether 83 pregnancies at median age of 27 years (range, 17-39). Sixty (72%) pregnancies led to a delivery, including 2 stillbirths (2.4%) and 5 (6.0%) preterm livebirths. Miscarriages, induced abortions, and ectopic pregnancies were observed in 14 (17%), 8 (10%), and 1 (1.2%) pregnancies, respectively. Ovum donation resulted in 5 (6.0%) pregnancies. High maternal age, premature ovarian insufficiency, primary adrenal insufficiency, or hypoparathyroidism did not associate with miscarriages. Women with livebirth had, on average, 4 APECED manifestations (range 0-10); 78% had hypoparathyroidism, and 36% had primary adrenal insufficiency. APECED manifestations remained mostly stable during pregnancy, but in 1 case, development of primary adrenal insufficiency led to adrenal crisis and stillbirth. Birth weights were normal in >80% and apart from 1 neonatal death of a preterm baby, no serious perinatal complications occurred.
Conclusions: Outcome of pregnancy in women with APECED was generally favorable. However, APECED warrants careful maternal multidisciplinary follow-up from preconceptual care until puerperium.
Keywords: autoimmunity; delivery; fertility; premature ovarian insufficiency.
© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society.