May 4, 2026 · Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.) · DOI: 10.1002/art.70208

Increased Risk of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy in SLE Women Exposed to Azathioprine

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The authors aimed to evaluate the risk of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who were exposed to azathioprine (AZA) compared to those who were not. Their findings indicate that AZA exposure is significantly associated with an increased risk of ICP, with a 12-fold higher hazard ratio, particularly in pregnancies exhibiting thiopurine metabolite shunting during the second trimester. This suggests that monitoring metabolite levels may help identify SLE patients at higher risk for developing ICP during pregnancy.

Reem Farhat, Maria Del Carmen Zamora-Medina, Sang-Cheol Bae, Megan R W Barber, Ann E Clarke, Paul R Fortin, Zahi Touma, Carl A Laskin, Isabelle Malhamé, Giada Sebastiani, Christine Peschken, Manuel F Ugarte-Gil, Alexandra Legge, Sasha Bernatsky, Évelyne Vinet

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