Pregnancy in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Valentina Mazziotti

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects 2.3 million people worldwide, mostly young adults, with a high female prevalence (70% to 75%). Therefore, most individuals who get diagnosed with MS are women of childbearing age. However, disease activity is greatly reduced during the last trimester of pregnancy, although an increased relapse rate is observed in the three months after delivery. Despite several studies point to pregnancy as a period of stabilization in the clinical course of MS, pregnancy in MS remains a controversial issue, mainly in relation to discontinuation of disease-modifying treatment, which is recommended from the time pregnancy is established and, to date, remains confirmed. Therefore, this is a very sensitive issue to consider given the importance of, on the one hand, ensuring the health of the fetus and, on the other hand, the health of the woman about both the accumulation and progression of the disease.

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