Long-term steroid treatment: a potential risk factor for uterine rupture during pregnancy?

Aim: Uterine rupture during pregnancy is a rare but life threatening event in Obstetrics, with potentially catastrophic consequences for both the fetus and the mother. There are few published case reports that investigate the possible association between long-term steroid treatment and uterine rupture during the antenatal period.

Case report: A 33-year-old G2P1 woman with obstetrical history of one previous transverse low-segment caesarean section presented at the 30th week of gestation with severe abdominal pain which started spontaneously one hour before. She had medical history of pemphigus under long-term treatment with prednisolone. Clinical examination showed acute abdomen while the fetus developed heart rate decelerations. Emergency caesarean section via Pfannenstiel incision under general anaesthesia was performed. Uterine rupture was recognised with localization not at the scar of the previous caesarean section but at the left posterolateral site of the uterine fundus. A healthy premature male infant with an excellent Apgar score and weight of 1510 gr. was delivered by a low-segment caesarean section. Surgical repair of the site of the rupture with isolated sutures followed. There was no need for hysterectomy as hemorrhage was controlled and hemodynamic stability of the woman was restored.

Discussion: Uterine rupture should be included in the differential diagnosis by all obstetricians not only during labour but in acute abdominal pain during the antenatal period as well.