# Can hydroxychloroquine prevent preeclampsia and preterm delivery in lupus pregnancy?

> **NIH NIH R01** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $574,061

## Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus has been linked to excess preeclampsia in pregnancy and
preterm delivery, however promising preliminary data suggest that hydroxychloroquine may
protect pregnant women with lupus from these potentially catastrophic outcomes. This work
leverages three large population-based databases from around the world (United States, Israel,
and Sweden) with detailed prescription and clinical data to address threats to internal validity
common in pharmacoepidemiological studies such as confounding by indication and selection
bias while disentangling these outcomes from the effects of potential mediators such as
glucocorticoids and gestational diabetes. Finally, given that hydroxychloroquine is safe and
effective in pregnant women with lupus for managing their disease, we will work with patients
and providers to understand why pregnant women with lupus are either choosing not to use
this medication or are not being prescribed it in the first place.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9946443
- **Project number:** 1R01AR077103-01
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Julia F Simard
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $574,061
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9946443

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9946443, Can hydroxychloroquine prevent preeclampsia and preterm delivery in lupus pregnancy? (1R01AR077103-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9946443. Licensed CC0.

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