Obstetric outcomes in a Mexican cohort of patients with AQP4-antibody-seropositive neuromyelitis optica

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have investigated the influence of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) on pregnancy in other ethnic groups. However, there are potential variations among ethnic groups. The obstetric outcome of Mexican patients with NMO and AQP4-IgG positivity (AQP4-IgG[+]) is currently unknown. Objective: To describe the obstetric history of Mexican patients with NMO and AQP4-IgG(+). Methods: Patients with NMO and AQP4-IgG(+) were identified from the database of the Demyelinating Diseases Clinic. These patients were interviewed by telephone. Results: Out of a total of 40 eligible patients, 29 were contacted and completed the survey. Of these, 19 patients reported at least one previous pregnancy. In total, 50 pregnancies were reported: 44 of them occurred ≥ 3 years before the first clinical manifestation, 1 occurred ≥ 1 years before, and 1 occurred after the first manifestation. Of all pregnancies, 12 were pregnancy losses: 5 were classified as miscarriages and 3 as stillbirths. Of all pregnancy losses, 10 occurred ≥ 3 years before the diagnosis, 1 occurred after the first manifestation. All pregnancy losses occurred in 8 patients. Conclusions: Close to half of the patients with previous pregnancies reported at least one pregnancy loss, most of these occurred ≥ 3 years before the diagnosis. This percentage is higher than expected for their age group in our country.