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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) doesn't raise the overall risk of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy — but it does significantly increase the odds of preeclampsia. A large cohort study also found IBD linked to higher rates of preterm delivery, small-for-gestational-age births, and cesarean sections. Researchers say this underscores the need for proactive, multidisciplinary care including high-risk OB involvement.
Pregnant patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may not face a broadly elevated risk of hypertensive disorders, but a new study reveals a notable exception: preeclampsia. Published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, the research found that IBD was associated with a 65% higher odds of developing preeclampsia compared to those without IBD — even though gestational hypertension rates were not significantly different.
The single-center cohort study, led by Dr. Lindsay M. Clarke of Brigham and Women's Hospital, analyzed nearly 45,500 pregnancies from 1998 to 2016, including 364 with IBD. Beyond preeclampsia, IBD was also tied to higher rates of preterm delivery, small-for-gestational-age births, and cesarean deliveries.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: For clinicians managing IBD patients of childbearing age, these findings reinforce the importance of early, coordinated care between gastroenterologists and high-risk obstetricians to monitor and mitigate adverse pregnancy outcomes.
