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Risk of multiple sclerosis exacerbation during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nelson, LM; Franklin, GM; Jones, MC
Published in: JAMA
June 17, 1988

Studies in the past have reported an increased risk of exacerbations in multiple sclerosis during the postpartum period; it is not known whether breast-feeding alters this risk. We interviewed 435 women regarding pregnancy and breast-feeding history, providing for analysis 191 pregnancies that had occurred during a nonprogressive phase of the disease. The exacerbation rates during the nine-month postpartum period (34%) were more than three times the exacerbation rate during the nine months of pregnancy (10%). The exacerbation risk was highest in the three-month period following childbirth and appeared to stabilize after the sixth postpartum month. The exacerbation rates in breast-feeding and non-breast-feeding pregnancies were 38% and 31%, respectively. The average time to exacerbation was similar in breast-feeding (3.0 months) and non-breast-feeding (3.1 months) pregnancies. Although differential exacerbation rates during pregnancy and the postpartum period may be related to hormonal effects on the immune system, the hormonal effects of breast-feeding do not appear to similarly affect the risk of exacerbation.

Duke Scholars

Published In

JAMA

ISSN

0098-7484

Publication Date

June 17, 1988

Volume

259

Issue

23

Start / End Page

3441 / 3443

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Puerperal Disorders
  • Pregnancy Complications
  • Pregnancy
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Middle Aged
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Humans
  • Hormones
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female
 

Citation

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Nelson, L. M., Franklin, G. M., & Jones, M. C. (1988). Risk of multiple sclerosis exacerbation during pregnancy and breast-feeding. JAMA, 259(23), 3441–3443.
Nelson, L. M., G. M. Franklin, and M. C. Jones. “Risk of multiple sclerosis exacerbation during pregnancy and breast-feeding.JAMA 259, no. 23 (June 17, 1988): 3441–43.
Nelson LM, Franklin GM, Jones MC. Risk of multiple sclerosis exacerbation during pregnancy and breast-feeding. JAMA. 1988 Jun 17;259(23):3441–3.
Nelson, L. M., et al. “Risk of multiple sclerosis exacerbation during pregnancy and breast-feeding.JAMA, vol. 259, no. 23, June 1988, pp. 3441–43.
Nelson LM, Franklin GM, Jones MC. Risk of multiple sclerosis exacerbation during pregnancy and breast-feeding. JAMA. 1988 Jun 17;259(23):3441–3443.
Journal cover image

Published In

JAMA

ISSN

0098-7484

Publication Date

June 17, 1988

Volume

259

Issue

23

Start / End Page

3441 / 3443

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Puerperal Disorders
  • Pregnancy Complications
  • Pregnancy
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Middle Aged
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Humans
  • Hormones
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female