Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2011 Jul;70(1):41-50.
doi: 10.1002/ana.22483. Epub 2011 Jun 27.

Neonatal and delivery outcomes in women with multiple sclerosis

Mia L van der Kop  1 , Mark S Pearce, Leanne Dahlgren, Anne Synnes, Dessa Sadovnick, Ana-Luiza Sayao, Helen Tremlett
Affiliations
Free PMC article
Comparative Study

Neonatal and delivery outcomes in women with multiple sclerosis

Mia L van der Kop et al. Ann Neurol. 2011 Jul.
Free PMC article

Abstract

Objective: To determine (1) whether the risk of adverse neonatal and delivery outcomes differs between mothers with and without multiple sclerosis (MS) and (2) whether risk is differentially associated with clinical factors of MS.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the British Columbia (BC) MS Clinics' database and the BC Perinatal Database Registry. Comparisons were made between births to women with MS (n = 432) and to a frequency-matched sample of women without MS (n = 2,975) from 1998 to 2009. Outcomes included gestational age, birth weight, assisted vaginal delivery, and Caesarean section. Clinical factors examined included age at MS onset, disease duration, and disability. Multivariate regression models adjusting for confounding factors were built for each outcome.

Results: Babies born to MS mothers did not have a significantly different mean gestational age or birth weight compared to babies born to mothers without MS. MS was not significantly associated with assisted vaginal delivery (odds ratio [OR], 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.50-1.16; p = 0.20) or Caesarean section (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.69-1.28; p = 0.69). There was a slightly elevated risk of adverse delivery outcomes among MS mothers with greater levels of disability, although findings were not statistically significant. Disease duration and age at MS onset were not significantly associated with adverse outcomes.

Interpretation: This study provides reassurance to MS patients that maternal MS is generally not associated with adverse neonatal and delivery outcomes. However, the suggestion of an increased risk with greater disability warrants further investigation; these women may require closer monitoring during pregnancy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIGURE
FIGURE
Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for the occurrence of operative vaginal delivery and Caesarean section in multiple sclerosis (MS) mothers compared to non-MS mothers and by clinical factors. EDSS = Expanded Disability Status Scale.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Weinshenker B, Hader W, Carriere W. The influence of pregnancy on disability from multiple sclerosis: a population-based study in Middlesex County, Ontario. Neurology. 1989;39:1438–1440. - PubMed
    1. Runmarker B, Andersen O. Pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of onset and a better prognosis in multiple sclerosis. Brain. 1995;118:253–261. - PubMed
    1. Orvieto R, Achiron R, Rostein Z, et al. Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis: a 2-year experience. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1999;82:191–194. - PubMed
    1. Worthington J, Jones R, Crawford M, Forti A. Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis—a 3-year prospective study. J Neurol. 1994;241:228–233. - PubMed
    1. Dahl J, Myhr K-M, Daltveit AK, et al. Pregnancy, delivery, and birth outcome in women with multiple sclerosis. Neurology. 2005;65:1961–1963. - PubMed

Publication types