Stroke in pregnancy.

Stroke in pregnancy and the puerperium is a rare but serious cause of maternal and fetal mortality. Pregnancy-associated maternal changes should remain additional considerations in the evaluation and treatment of the pregnant patient who has stroke and not preclude a comprehensive stroke evaluation. Instead, the approach to the pregnant patient who has stroke should include the evaluation of general causes of stroke in the young, with the additional consideration of the rare pregnancy-specific causes. Understanding the potential maternal and fetal risks of diagnostic testing and treatment is crucial to appropriate decision making when caring for the pregnant patient who has stroke.