Table 3 Clinical characteristics of patients in the GC-S and GC-I groups according to the use of glucocorticoids

Age at delivery in years, mean (SD)

34.1 (3.1)

34.1 (3.6)

31.6 (3.9)

31.2 (3.0)

Disease duration in years, median (range)

4.6 (0.2-28.6)

6.8 (1.0-22.7)

5.3 (0.1-28.5)

2.4 (0.2-28.4)

Gestational age at delivery in weeks, mean (SD)

39.0 (1.9)^A

37.4 (2.2)

39.8 (1.3)

39.9 (1.3)

Anti-CCP positive, n (%)

16 (66.7)

8 (61.5)

24 (54.5)

6 (40%)

Rheumatoid factor (IgM) positive, n (%)

17 (70.8)

10 (76.9)

31 (70.5)

9 (60.0)

Presence of erosions, n (%)

22 (91.7)

13 (100)

28 (63.6)

8 (53.3)

Dosage of prednisone (pregnancy; mg/day), median (range)

6.25 (2.5-15)

8.75 (5-20)

-

-

Dosage of prednisone (postpartum; mg/day), median (range)

8.75 (2.5-15)

10.0 (5-15)

-

-

Number of DMARDs before conception, median (range)

2 (0-4)

2 (1-5)

2 (0-4)

2 (0-3)

Moderate/good response during pregnancy, n (%)

5/11 (45.5)

4/9 (44.4)

8/16 (50)

5/11 (45.5)

Very early flare, N/N_total (%)

5/21 (23.8)

3/13 (23.1)

10/41 (24.4)

5/13 (38.5)

Early flare, N/N_total (%)

4/21 (19.0)

2/12 (16.7)

12/40 (30.0)

3/13 (23.1)

Late flare, N/N_total (%)

4/19 (21.1)

4/13 (30.8)

15/37 (40.5)

4/12 (33.3)

Breastfeeding (6 weeks postpartum), n (%)

8 (33.3)

1 (7.7)

20 (45.5)

8 (53.3)

Use of NSAIDs at 6 months postpartum,^a N/N_total (%)

7/22 (31.8)^b

10/13 (76.9)

13/40 (32.5)

6/13 (46.2)

Use of MTX at 6 months postpartum,^a N/N_total (%)

11/22 (50.0)

9/13 (69.2)

10/40 (25.0)

5/13 (38.5)

Use of sulfasalazine at 6 months postpartum,^a N/N_total (%)

6/22 (27.3)

2/13 (15.4)

17/40 (42.5)

6/13 (46.2)

Use of anti-TNF-α at 6 months postpartum,^a N/N_total (%)

3/22 (13.6)

3/13 (23.1)

2/40 (5.0)

0/13 (0)