[A case of anti-aquaporin 4 antibody-positive Sjögren syndrome associated with a relapsed myelitis in pregnancy].
It is known that pregnancy influences the relapsing rate of multiple sclerosis (MS); however, interaction between pregnancy and relapse of neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a distinct disease from MS, remains unclear. A 34-year-old woman who 1 year previously had clinical history of Sjögren syndrome complicated by myelitis with the presence of anti-AQP4 antibody in her serum, although there was no optic neuritis involvement, was neurologically normal at time of becoming pregnant. In the 22nd week of her pregnancy, however, she developed abdominal belt-shaped numbness and sensory impairment followed by weakness of bilateral lower limb leading to difficulty of her gait. MR imaging revealed hyperintense lesions within the spinal cord extending from C2 to T2 vertebral level with marked spinal cord swelling, indicating relapse of myelitis associated with anti-AQP4 antibody. She was treated with intravenous corticosteroid with marked benefits for her neurological status; she was able to walk without assistance after the treatment. However, in the 30th week she relapsed with myelitis at T2 to T9 vertebral level on MR imaging. Intravenous steroid administration again elicited improvement. She delivered a baby via Caesarean section at 34 weeks of pregnancy. After delivery, she started taking oral corticosteroid as preventive therapy for further relapse of myelitis; thus far she has had no relapse at 7 months of follow-up. There are few reports regarding the influence of pregnancy on anti-AQP4 antibody-positive myelitis. Although further investigation should be done to clarify the difference of immunological changes during pregnancy between NMO and conventional MS, our case together with previous reports indicate increased risk of relapse during pregnancy in NMO. It is necessary to remain vigilant against possible risk of relapse during pregnancy in patients with NMO and/or positive anti-AQP4 antibody. Intravenous steroid administration seems safe and effective against relapse of NMO during pregnancy.
Tsugawa
Jun
J
Department of Neurology, Fukuoka University.
Tsuboi
Yoshio
Y
Inoue
Hirosato
H
Baba
Yasuhiko
Y
Yamada
Tatsuo
T
D000328:Adult; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009187:Myelitis / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*
D051401:Aquaporin 4