BACKGROUND: In multiple sclerosis (MS), the relapse rate declines during pregnancy and increases during the first three months post-partum before returning to the pre-pregnancy rate. It is unknown whether pregnancy impacts the risk of clinical conversion in those within the presymptomatic period. OBJECTIVES: We investigate the impact of pregnancy on developing a clinical event in women diagnosed with radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS). METHODS: All women with RIS underwent clinical and radiological assessments as part of an observational, prospective, longitudinal study. Clinical and MRI outcomes were analyzed during and after pregnancy. Subjects who became pregnant were compared with an age-matched female RIS group who did not become pregnant during the same follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 60 women with RIS were followed for up to seven years. Among them, seven became pregnant and were compared with 53 age-matched control women with RIS who did not become pregnant during the observation period. A significantly shorter time of conversion to the first neurological event was observed in the pregnant group [15.3 months (10-18)] compared with the non-pregnant controls [35.7 months (8-76)], yielding an absolute difference of 20.4 months (p<0.05). The mean (SD) number of active lesions on a subsequent brain MRI scan was significantly higher in the pregnant group [3.2 (±1.7)] compared with the control group [1.8 (±0.6)]. CONCLUSIONS: The risk for clinical conversion from RIS to a clinical event and new MRI disease activity seems to be influenced by pregnancy. Pregnancy related physiological changes could operate as early as the presymptomatic period in patients with MS.
BACKGROUND: In multiple sclerosis (MS), the relapse rate declines during pregnancy and increases during the first three months post-partum before returning to the pre-pregnancy rate. It is unknown whether pregnancy impacts the risk of clinical conversion in those within the presymptomatic period. OBJECTIVES: We investigate the impact of pregnancy on developing a clinical event in women diagnosed with radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS). METHODS: All women with RIS underwent clinical and radiological assessments as part of an observational, prospective, longitudinal study. Clinical and MRI outcomes were analyzed during and after pregnancy. Subjects who became pregnant were compared with an age-matched female RIS group who did not become pregnant during the same follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 60 women with RIS were followed for up to seven years. Among them, seven became pregnant and were compared with 53 age-matched control women with RIS who did not become pregnant during the observation period. A significantly shorter time of conversion to the first neurological event was observed in the pregnant group [15.3 months (10-18)] compared with the non-pregnant controls [35.7 months (8-76)], yielding an absolute difference of 20.4 months (p<0.05). The mean (SD) number of active lesions on a subsequent brain MRI scan was significantly higher in the pregnant group [3.2 (±1.7)] compared with the control group [1.8 (±0.6)]. CONCLUSIONS: The risk for clinical conversion from RIS to a clinical event and new MRI disease activity seems to be influenced by pregnancy. Pregnancy related physiological changes could operate as early as the presymptomatic period in patients with MS.
Authors: Andres G Barboza; Edgar Carnero Contentti; Maria Celeste Curbelo; Mario Javier Halfon; Juan Ignacio Rojas; Berenice A Silva; Vladimiro Sinay; Santiago Tizio; Maria Celica Ysrraelit; Ricardo Alonso Journal: Neurol Sci Date: 2021-01-25 Impact factor: 3.307
Authors: Annika Anderson; Kristen M Krysko; Alice Rutatangwa; Tanya Krishnakumar; Chelsea Chen; William Rowles; Chao Zhao; Maria K Houtchens; Riley Bove Journal: Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm Date: 2021-02-19
Authors: Darin T Okuda; Aksel Siva; Orhun Kantarci; Matilde Inglese; Ilana Katz; Melih Tutuncu; B Mark Keegan; Stacy Donlon; Le H Hua; Angela Vidal-Jordana; Xavier Montalban; Alex Rovira; Mar Tintoré; Maria Pia Amato; Bruno Brochet; Jérôme de Seze; David Brassat; Patrick Vermersch; Nicola De Stefano; Maria Pia Sormani; Daniel Pelletier; Christine Lebrun Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-03-05 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Tobias Granberg; Juha Martola; Peter Aspelin; Maria Kristoffersen-Wiberg; Sten Fredrikson Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2013-11-04 Impact factor: 2.692