Histiocytosis X and pregnancy

Abstract

Histiocytosis X is associated with a pathologic proliferation of mononuclear histiocytes in the reticular endothelial system. Different clinical manifestations of this group of disorders may occur. Pregnancy and histiocytosis X infrequently occur simultaneously. Four cases previously reported along with 1 new case of histiocytosis X and pregnancy are reviewed in this report. Only chronic histiocytosis X, Hand-Schüller-Christian disease (HSCD), has been reported to occur during pregnancy. The most frequent complication during pregnancy was the onset or exacerbation of diabetes insipidus, as frequently seen with this disorder. The possibility that HSCD may alter pituitary function may contribute to the infrequent occurrence of pregnancy in patients with this disorder.