Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
08:51
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis: the initial results from a Brazilian database
Yara Dadalti Fragoso1, Alessandro Finkelsztejn, Elizabeth Regina Comini-Frota
1Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil. yara@bsnet.com.br
Arquivos De Neuro-Psiquiatria
|September 2, 2009
Summary
This study found no birth defects in infants exposed to multiple sclerosis (MS) medications during pregnancy. Relapse rates remained lower during pregnancy, offering valuable data for managing MS patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Obstetrics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Managing multiple sclerosis (MS) during pregnancy presents unique challenges for patients and physicians.
- Limited published data exists on pregnancy outcomes and medication exposure in MS patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze pregnancy outcomes in a cohort of Brazilian women with multiple sclerosis.
- To assess the safety of MS medications during pregnancy and their potential impact on birth outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Data collected from a Brazilian database encompassing nine MS clinical and research units.
- Analysis of complete data from 47 women experiencing 49 pregnancies.
Main Results:
- No birth defects were reported despite significant exposure to MS medications.
- Rates of low birth weight and prematurity were comparable to those in developing countries.
- Three pregnancy complications were potentially medication-associated, while three were deemed obstetric in origin.
Conclusions:
- Confirms previous findings of reduced relapse rates in multiple sclerosis patients during pregnancy.
- Provides crucial data on medication exposure and pregnancy outcomes for women with MS.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...