Connective tissue disorders and dermatological disorders in pregnancy

Connective tissue disorders, particularly those that are autoimmune, are being seen with increasing frequency in the pregnant population. The care of these patients in pregnancy ranges from the routine to the complicated, with some of the conditions posing significant risks both to the mother and the foetus. Dermatological conditions are often encountered in pregnancy and again range from the benign to those resulting in serious foetal and maternal morbidity, with a number being specific to pregnancy. An important issue for both groups of disorders is the use of particular medications during pregnancy. Those with pre-existing disease should ideally be reviewed pre-pregnancy to optimise treatment. During pregnancy, frequency of review and degree of treatment will depend on the severity of the condition and may require multidisciplinary team involvement to optimise both maternal and foetal outcomes.