International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Pregnant women that have the inflammatory skin disease psoriasis have a significantly higher risk of poor outcomes such as preterm birth, preeclampsia and ectopic pregnancy, according to data from a retrospective chart review.

Researchers at Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital, US, found the rate of complication was three to four times greater in women that had the condition, MedPage Today reported.

However, women that had psoriasis had a considerably lower rate of caesarean section when compared with women who did not have the disease.

"This exploratory study highlights some possible associations between psoriasis and pregnancy events," Xinaida T. Lima, managing director of Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital said.

"Future studies should address this important research question with prospective design or more comprehensive retrospective cohort."

Research carried out at Stanford University School of Medicine has found depression during pregnancy can cause harm to both the mother and baby, leading to pre-mature delivery, preeclampsia, sleep disturbances and disrupted mother-infant bonding, TopNews reported.