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The influence of pregnancy on relapses in multiple sclerosis: a cohort study
Author(s) -
Bernardi S.,
G M.,
Bertollini R.,
Orzi F.,
Fieschi C.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1991.tb04977.x
Subject(s) - pregnancy , medicine , obstetrics , cohort , multiple sclerosis , post partum , pregnancy rate , early pregnancy factor , postpartum period , cohort study , gestation , psychiatry , genetics , biology
The influence of pregnancy on the relapse rate (number of relapses per person per year) in MS was analysed for 52 women who had a pregnancy during the disease. The relapse rate was lower during the pregnancy‐year (9 months of pregnancy and 6 months immediately post partum) than the non‐pregnancy time. There was a heterogeneous pattern during the pregnancy‐year with a sharp decrease in the relapse rate observed during pregnancy and a slight non‐significant increase in the puerperium: both these relapse rates were compared with figures observed in the same group of women during the non‐pregnancy time. Pregnancy does not appear to be a period at greater risk for exacerbations but, on the contrary it seems to act, on the whole, as a protective event. These data allow physicians to provide reassuring counselling to women.