Gestational Outcomes of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis; A Tertiary Center Experience

Abstract

Background. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that predominantly affects the young female population. It is important for an obstetrician to know the effects of pregnancy on MS, and vice versa. Objective. To demonstrate the impact of MS on pregnancy outcomes. Methods. We retrospectively evaluated demographic features, clinical characteristics, and obstetric outcomes of 47 pregnancies in 24 patients with MS, between January 2007 and December 2016. Results. Patients were divided into three groups: (i) 35 pregnancies in patients with MS who were in remission at the beginning of pregnancy; (ii) 10 pregnancies in patients with MS whose disease was exacerbated at the beginning of pregnancy; and (iii) 2 pregnancies in patients with active MS whose symptoms were relieved after becoming pregnant. The overall early pregnancy loss rate was 36.2%, whereas it was 60% and 31.4% in the exacerbation and remission groups, respectively; and the overall preterm delivery rate was 30%, while it was 29.1% and 50% in the remission and exacerbation groups, respectively. Conclusion. Miscarriage and preterm delivery seem to be significant obstetric complications in pregnant women with MS.