A Clinical Approach To Juvenile Parkinsonism During Pregnancy

Abstract

Juvenile parkinsonism is a rare disease affecting patients younger than the age of 21 years. When superimposed with pregnancy, most physicians fear its health complications and the role of the treatment and its safety for the fetus. This case presents a 37-year-old woman diagnosed with juvenile parkinsonism who was blessed with her second child, eight years after her first. Despite all the odds, concerns, and warnings from family and physicians, the patient was determined to conceive, avoiding all means of contraception. During pregnancy, the patient experienced multiple hypoglycemic attacks and was diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus, which was controlled accordingly. The patient also suffered from motor impairments that worsened with the progression of pregnancy. However, the patient regained previous motor function upon delivery. The expectation that pregnancy may permanently worsen the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease is not explicit; some pregnancies are uncomplicated by Parkinsonism yet complicated by pregnancy-induced medical conditions. As demonstrated in this case, family support and care, alongside continuous maternofetal monitoring, aids in the success of pregnancy in patients with juvenile Parkinson’s disease regardless of their risks.