Maternal and perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with multiple sclerosis: a case-control study

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Neurology
• Reproductive Medicine

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
• The impact of MS on pregnancy outcomes and the maternal disease course requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between maternal multiple sclerosis (MS) and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
• To determine the clinical course of MS during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study was conducted, including 43 pregnancies with MS and 100 matched healthy pregnancies.
• Maternal and perinatal data were collected from hospital records.
• Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney, χ2 tests, and logistic regression.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in rates of preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, stillbirth, cesarean delivery, congenital malformations, or 5-minute Apgar scores.
• Women with MS had higher rates of general anesthesia for cesarean delivery, urinary tract infection (UTI), low 1-minute Apgar scores, and nonbreastfeeding.
• Low 1-minute Apgar scores and breastfeeding rates were independent of general anesthesia and UTI.

Conclusions:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) during pregnancy is not associated with most adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.
• Increased risks were noted for urinary tract infections (UTI), low 1-minute Apgar scores, and decreased breastfeeding rates in women with MS.