Multiple sclerosis and pregnancy- treatment considerations

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease which, due to the destruction of the fibres of the central nervous system in the process of demyelination, leads to numerous neurological symptoms and progressive disability. The disease is autoimmune, which means that myelin is destroyed by the patient's own cells, caused by improper functionong and regulation of the immune system. Multiple sclerosis affects more and more people and is therefore a significant clinical problem which, to a large Entent, affects women, especially in childbearing age This presents a big challenge for carrying out pregnancy while continuing the therapy, ensuring the safety of the foetus and simultaneously achieving the best possible therapeutic effect. The decision whether the therapy should be continued or whether it should be eliminatedis usually made according to assessment of the possible gains and losse. Despite the lack of clear indications, there are many studies proving the relative safety of the use of individual but not all the drugs during pregnancy. Pregnancy, however, has a fairly good impact on the development of multiple sclerosis, and that safety considerations, especially those concerning the growing foetus, force a decision to change or completely suspend the therapy. In-depth research on the already available and emerging therapeutic pathways in multiple sclerosis bring hope for increasingly better results in the future in the treatment of pregnant patients with multiple sclerosis.

Keywords

• pregnancy
• multiple sclerosis
• neurology
• gynecology
• treatment considerations