Course and outcome of erythema migrans in pregnant women

Abstract

Information on Lyme borreliosis (LB) during pregnancy is limited. In the present study, the course and outcome of erythema migrans (EM) in 304 pregnant women, diagnosed in the period 1990–2015, was assessed and compared with that in age-matched non-pregnant women. The frequency of unfavorable outcome of pregnancies was also evaluated. The pregnant women reported constitutional symptoms less frequently than the non-pregnant women (22.4% vs. 37.2%, p < 0.001). Pregnant women diagnosed with EM later during pregnancy had a lower probability of reporting constitutional symptoms (odds ratio = 0.97 for 1-week difference in gestation week at diagnosis of EM, 95% CI: 0.94–0.99, p = 0.02). The outcome of pregnancy was unfavorable in 42/304 (13.8%) patients: preterm birth in 22/42 (52.4%), fetal/perinatal death in 10/42 (23.8%), and/or anomalies in 15/42 (35.7%). Several patients had potential explanation(s) for the unfavorable outcome. In conclusion, the course of early LB during pregnancy is milder than in age-matched non-pregnant women. The outcome of pregnancy with the treatment approach used in the present study (i.v. ceftriaxone 2 g once daily for 14 days) is favorable.