Crohn's disease and pregnancy

This paper reports the outcome of 60 pregnancies in 40 women, all of whom had concomitant Crohn's disease. Detailed analysis of pregnancy rates in Crohn's disease supports in outline the hypothesis that some patients with bowel symptoms may be rendered temporarily subfertile by the activity of their bowel complaints. In contrast there is little or no evidence of any adverse effect during pregnancy on mother or child. Most pregnancies went normally to term and, if anything, Crohn's disease tended to improve during the period of confinement.After delivery, however, over 40% of patients suffered a relapse of Crohn's disease. Such a situation might well constitute a logical indication for the administration of corticosteroid therapy.