Investigators have found that patients with psoriasis may have reduced fertility rates and a greater number of adverse pregnancy outcomes, according to a new study published by Chen et al in JAMA Dermatology. Investigators compared the fertility rates and birth outcomes of 63,681 female patients with psoriasis and 318,405 age-matched controls using information from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink gathered between 1998 and 2019. After a median follow-up of 4.1 years, the investigators discovered that patients who had moderate-to-severe psoriasis tended to have lower fertility rates (rate ratio = 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.69–0.83) and a higher risk of pregnancy loss (odds ratio = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.03–1.10) compared with controls. They reported no significant statistical differences in the rates of antenatal hemorrhage, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes between the two groups. The investigators hope to identify the mechanisms contributing to pregnancy loss in this patient population in future studies.


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