[Connective tissue diseases during pregnancy - therapeutic aspect. Part 1: SLE, antiphosholipid syndrome].

Connective tissue diseases, defined as chronic, multi-system autoimmune dysfunctions, occur predominantly in women of childbearing age. Pregnancy, as a specific state of hormonal and immunological diversity, may involve adverse influence on maternal disease activity, causing remission or exacerbation necessitating appropriate therapy. In the first part of the article the influence of female hormones on the immunological cells is presented, as well as their role in the autoimmunological process. The special emphasis is put on most frequent connective tissue diseases among young women- systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome. The article also highlights the risk of potential obstetric complications, the gravity of careful planning, restrictive monitoring and necessary treatment to minimalize the risk of intricacy.