Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly positioned as a transformative force in healthcare. The translation of AI from technical validation to real-world clinical impact remains a critical challenge. This systematic review aims to synthesize the evidence on the AI translational pathway in healthcare, focusing on the systemic barriers and facilitators to integration. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore for studies published between 2000 and 2025. We included peer-reviewed original research, clinical trials, observational studies, and reviews reporting on AI technical validation, clinical deployment, implementation outcomes, or ethical governance. While AI models consistently demonstrate high diagnostic accuracy (92–98% in radiology) and robust predictive performance (AUC 0.76–0.82 in readmission forecasting), clinical adoption remains limited, with only 15–25% of departments integrating AI tools and approximately 60% of projects failing beyond pilot testing. Key barriers include interoperability limitations affecting over half of implementations, lack of clinician trust in unsupervised systems (35%), and regulatory immaturity, with only 27% of countries establishing AI governance frameworks. Moreover, performance disparities exceeding 10% were identified in 28% of models, alongside a pronounced global divide, as 73% of low-resource health systems lack enabling infrastructure. These findings underscore the need for systemic, trustworthy, and equity-driven AI integration strategies.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects women of reproductive age. Pregnancy in women with SLE is often complicated by disease flares, posing significant maternal and fetal risks, such as preeclampsia, lupus nephritis, miscarriage, preterm birth, and intrauterine growth restriction. Diagnosing SLE during pregnancy is particularly challenging due to overlapping symptoms with pregnancy-related conditions. Literature on new-onset SLE in pregnancy is limited, highlighting the need for more case reports to improve understanding and management. We report the case of a 28-year-old primigravida, presenting at 29 weeks of gestation with fever, pancytopenia, and fatigue. Initial investigations ruled out infectious causes, and subsequent autoimmune testing confirmed new-onset SLE. Prompt treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants resulted in the patient’s recovery and successful delivery at 39 weeks without complications. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges of SLE during pregnancy and emphasizes the importance of early recognition and a multidisciplinary approach to management to prevent adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.