title: Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis--a 3-year prospective study.
abstract: A prospective study of the level of disability, severity and distribution of relapses in 15 women with multiple sclerosis prior to, during and up to 3 years following pregnancy was undertaken. The pregnant group was compared with 22 nulliparous women attending the same clinic and matched for age and severity and duration of disease. In the pregnant group, relapses were more frequent and severe than expected values during the first 6 months post partum, but were below expected values 6-24 months post partum. Over the total study period, therefore, there were no significant differences in relapse number, Expanded Disability Status Score or functional scores between the two groups. Babies born during the study showed normal distributions of weight and head circumference.
authors.affiliation: CMH Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Central Middlesex Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Worthington
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002508:Cephalometry; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012016:Reference Values