Pregnancy‐induced brain magnetic resonance imaging changes in women with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Women of reproductive age are most affected; thus, the effect of pregnancy on MS disease activity is discussed.Pregnancy is associated with endocrinal [1,2] and immune[3] changes influencing the course of MS. For example, relapsing activity decreases during pregnancy, but after delivery usually returns to the prepregnancy level [4][5][6][7][8][9]. Although pregnancy is associated with a short-term decrease of clinical disease activity, this is unlikely to positively influence long-term disability

Pregnancy and reproductive health in women with multiple sclerosis: an update

“…However, a sizable proportion of patients (∼33% in some studies) have only radiologic disease activity, in absence of any clinical correlates [81]. Postpartum period has been associated with an accelerated brain volume loss in a considerable proportion of WwMS in another study [84]. It is generally recommended that a comprehensive MRI evaluation is performed within 3 months after delivery.…”

Monoclonal Antibodies in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Review and an Updated Clinical Guide

“…Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have revolutionized the treatment of MS. Currently, there are five US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- and four European Medicines Agency (EMA)-approved mAbs for the treatment of remitting–relapsing and progressive forms of MS [ 28 ]. These include natalizumab (Tysabri) for the treatment of relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS), which was first approved in 2004, then suspended in 2005 due to three cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), and re-introduced in 2006; alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) for RRMS (2013); ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) for both RRMS and progressive MS (2017); and ofatumumab (Kesimpta) for RRMS (2021).…”