title: Neuromyelitis optica and pregnancy.
abstract: Less than a hundred cases of pregnancies in women with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) have been published in the world. The aim of the present study was to add the Brazilian experience to this subject. Cases of women with NMO who became pregnant, or who developed NMO soon after pregnancy, were included. Retrospective analysis of medical data from these patients was carried out by the neurologist responsible for the case. Seventeen cases of pregnancies (16 full-term pregnancies, one miscarriage) were identified. The relapse rate of demyelinating events in the first trimester after pregnancy was significantly higher than at any other time. Disability progression was significantly worse 1 year after delivery. Pregnancy negatively influenced the disease course of NMO in these women. These results are similar to those of other authors, although the total number of cases so far described is still small. Obstetricians must be aware of the potential complications of a pregnancy in a woman who has NMO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical School, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos (UNIMES), Rua da Constituicao 374, Santos, SP, CEP 11015-470, Brazil, yara@bsnet.com.br.
authors.forename: Yára Dadalti
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Fragoso
authors.forename: Tarso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adoni
authors.forename: Denis Bernardi
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Bichuetti
authors.forename: Joseph Bruno Bidin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Maria Lucia Brito
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Enedina Maria Lobato
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Celso Luis Silva
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Sonia Beatriz Felix
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Alex Eduardo
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siquineli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012008:Recurrence