Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy associated with pregnancy

In a series of 61 patients with the relapsing variety of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, there were 16 women of childbearing age, 9 of whom became pregnant. In 4 of these women, the onset of neuropathy occurred in pregnancy and in the other 5 relapses occurred during pregnancy. There was a significant increase in the number of relapses during the year of pregnancy, and a tendency for symptoms to worsen during the third trimester or immediate postpartum period. It is concluded that there is an increased risk of relapse of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy in pregnancy.