ECTRIMS 2022 | Pregnancy planning: differences between counselling NMOSD and MS patients

Melinda Magyari, MD, PhD, The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, talks about pregnancy issues in multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). Pregnancy planning is essential in young women of childbearing age affected with MS and NMOSD. In MS, the pro-inflammatory mechanisms are suppressed during pregnancy, causing a reduction in inflammation and disease activity, whereas the disease activity is increased in NMOSD pregnancy. During pregnancy, the aquaporin-4 (AQP4), the target antibody in NMOSD, attacks the AQP4 water channels in the placenta leading to a 20% risk of miscarriage, pregnancy complications, and disease relapse. Therefore, treatment is of prime importance in NMOSD during pregnancy, postpartum and breastfeeding to prevent relapse and other associated complications. This interview took place at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) Congress 2022 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

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