Pregnancy is a physiologic condition where several immuno-endocrine changes take place with the aim of facilitating immunosuppression and tolerance towards paternal and fetal antigens. In normal human pregnancy there is a relative suppression of Th1 type cytokines in response to lymphocytes, leading to a Th2 type response. In SLE, where a Th2 type response prevails, pregnancy may exacerbate the disease. This article reviews the alterations related to the immune response during normal pregnancy and in SLE patients.
pregnancy; systemic lupus erythematosus; Th2 response