Objective: Pregnancy has a well documented effect on relapse risk in MS. Prospective studies have reported a significant decline by two-thirds in the rate of relapses during the third trimester of pregnancy and a significant increase by two-thirds during the first 3 months post-partum (after delivery). However, it is unclear as to whether there are any long term effects on disability.
Methods: Data were collated from clinical records and family histories systematically collected from the University of British Columbia MS Clinic.
Results: Clinical and term pregnancy data were available from 2105 female MSers. MSers having children after MS onset took the longest time to reach an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 6 (mean 22.9 years) and MSers having children before MS onset were the quickest (mean 13.2 years). However, these effects were not related to term pregnancy and were fully accounted for by age of MS onset.
Conclusions: Pregnancy had no effect on the time to reach an EDSS score 6 (needing a unilateral walking aid; typically a stick). As MS predominantly affects women of childbearing age, women with MS can be reassured that term pregnancies do not appear to have any long-term effects on disability.
“A simple study with a definitive answer. This type of information is very useful when giving advice in clinic. Fertility and family planning advice is high up on the agenda of a most MSers, particularly as MS is a disease of young woman. I hope you find this information reassuring.”
CoI: Ram is part of Team G
Thanks for this, I wish I'd known about this before I had my children. What worries me is their slightly raised risk of developing the condition although there are superior therapies and treatments around these days, and hopefully more to come in the future. 🙂
Is this connected with the link http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=0fa7b050-10e5-433e-a56a-e1bb4106eab3Headlines of the article are Pregnancy hormone may bring MS cure It is a curious fact that women with multiple sclerosis often go into remission when they are pregnant. A new Canadian study may have determined why, and in the process opened the door to a potential breakthrough treatment of the devastating neurological condition.Article in canada.comIs there really a cure?
No not at all. It is another study that is not yet visible, except in media land.This is just bad reporting If you ever read "mice" and "MS cure" in the same article it is just media hype and take it with a "pinch of salt"If I gave you an organ transplant and no anti-transplant drugs you would reject it.However a baby is like a transplant and the dad part of the baby would be rejected by the mother, just like a transplant if the body had not adapted to this. So the body dampens immune responses so that the baby is not rejected. So diseases that involve an overactive immune system are dampened during pregnancy.Is there a cure..YES..we just have to find it.
The study reported above looks at a hormone associated with milk production (pro-lactin) and the study suggests that if promotes growth of myelin forming cells.