Parkinson's disease and pregnancy: An updated review

Pregnancy does not often occur in the setting of Parkinson's disease (PD) as the most common age of onset is beyond the childbearing years, yet management of these two conditions is crucial for the health of both mother and child. Here we review treatment data of PD during pregnancy, primarily from case reports and drug registries, and focus on available evidence regarding the pregnancy risks for patient and fetus. Historically, it was reported that many women had worsening of symptoms during pregnancy but this may be because anti-parkinsonian medications were not recommended or were under dosed. Levodopa has the best safety data for use in pregnancy and amantadine should be avoided in women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. The data for other pharmacological and surgical treatments is less clear. There is no evidence that women with PD have higher rates of birth or fetal complications.