Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis: a 2-year experience

Abstract

Objective: To present our experience with management of parturients with multiple sclerosis and to examine the role of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in the prevention of postpartum exacerbations of the disease.

Methods: Fifteen patients with multiple sclerosis with a relapsing-remitting course were followed during pregnancy and 6 months postpartum. To prevent postpartum exacerbations, 14 of the patients had received IVIg after delivery.

Results: None of the patients who received postpartum IVIg relapsed during the 6 months after delivery. None of the observed obstetric complications nor the operative deliveries could be related to the coexistence of multiple sclerosis.

Conclusion: Postpartum IVIg treatment is beneficial in preventing acute childbirth-associated exacerbations in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Furthermore, this disease does not seem to increase obstetric complications.