Evaluation of the Neurological Complaints during Pregnancy and Postpartum

Pregnancy and postpartum are critical periods for patients with neurological complications. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcome of pregnant women with neurological conditions.

This cross-sectional study reviewed pregnant women with neurological signs and symptoms, who were registered in the Medical Care Monitoring Center (MCMC) database of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2013-15. A questionnaire was designed to record each patient's information including demographic variables, past medical history, clinical presentation, obstetric profile, and fetal/maternal outcomes.

Totally, 332 mothers were registered in the database. The main neurological complaints in our population were headache, seizure, unilateral neurological symptoms, multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular disorder, and brain tumor. More than half of the patients (54%) experienced headache during the pregnancy and postpartum period.

Evaluating the neurological disorders separately, based on the time of symptom onset indicates the importance of follow-up of mothers during peripartum. Our findings suggest that decisions for pregnancy in women with neurological disorders should be based on risks outweighing for the mother and the fetus, particularly regarding the pharmacological side effects.