Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and riluzole use during pregnancy: A case report

Abstract

arteri osus without clinical symptoms or haemody-namic repercussion. Association between ALS and pregnancy has rarely been described. Since 1977, 19 pregnancies in 16 women have been reported, including the present case (2 6). As foetal growth can be affected by mul-tiple factors, it is diffi cult to attribute this fi nding to the drug use. This is the fi rst report of association between riluzole use and cardiac malformation, although prevalence of cardiac malformations in the general population is considerable. Riluzole use during pregnancy is thought to be harmless, but foetal effects are unknown. It is catego-rized as a Class C drug by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (7). The only case of riluzole use throughout pregnancy reported a low birth weight of the newborn, but IURG was not consid-ered because of an uncertain gestational age (2). There has been another case in which riluzole was used until pregnancy diagnosis, at nine weeks GA, when the drug was discontinued (3). ALS seems not to cause obstetric complications. In advanced cases, respiratory complications have been described (4). This was not seen in our patient, whose neurological evaluation deteriorated as a normal progression. Also, uterine contractions seem not to be adversely affected by ALS (5). No clear evidence exists as to the better method of delivery. Besides incipient respiratory failure, caesarean delivery indication should follow obstetrics routine (6).