[Chronic idiopathic enterocolitis and pregnancy. Reciprocal repercussions and treatment]

Abstract

The authors having studied retrospectively 23 pregnancies that were complicated by haemorrhagic proctocolitis or Crohn's disease, try to define by following the literature as well, how these diseases react on fertility and on pregnancy, and how pregnancy reacts on the diseases and the treatments that are available during pregnancy. As far as we know at present, the patients are sub-fertile in cases on ulcerative colitis and normally fertile in cases of Crohn's disease. These illnesses are not exacerbated by pregnancy, but pregnancies are affected by flare-ups of the condition, and therefore should be planned if possible for when the illness is in remission. Previous bowel resection does not alter the course of the pregnancy nor change the methods of delivery. These is no abnormal effect on the fetus or infant due to the treatment, but it is wiser to avoid using Azathioprine during embryogenesis.