Linear IgA disease and pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Although many patients with linear IgA dermatosis (LAD) are young and have persistent disease, little is known about the interactions between LAD and pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to study the effects of LAD on pregnancy, and vice versa.

METHODS: Our study included 12 patients with LAD who underwent a total of 19 pregnancies.

RESULTS: In all patients the disease improved during pregnancy, enabling therapy to be reduced or stopped. Dapsone was taken by patients during 11 pregnancies, and no adverse effects were seen. No patients had problems in labor. Most patients had a relapse approximately 3 months post partum, even if they had previously been in remission. In two patients, disease started within 3 months of delivery. Fetal outcome was unaffected in all but one fetus, who had a single transient blister.

CONCLUSION: We found no contraindication to pregnancy in patients with LAD. We recommend that therapy be reduced or stopped whenever possible during pregnancy and that patients be counseled about the possibility of a relapse post partum.