Psychomotor skills in first-year infants born by multiple sclerosis mothers: a single-centre prospective clinical observational study

Abstract

Introduction. The impact of a mother’s MS on the intrauterine and postnatal development of the infant remains controversial. Aim: to study the influence of mother’s MS, and pathogenetic therapy, on the formation of psychomotor skills in first-year infants under comparison with a group of infants from healthy mothers (“case-control”). Materials and methods. Prospective observational study (“case-control”) at months 3, 6, 9 and 12. The WHO-recommended scale of motor development (WHO six milestones), 46 infants from MS mothers and 46 infants from the control group. Results. The duration of the mother’s MS disease, the severity of the neurological deficit, and the disease course’s activity was found not significantly to affect the motor and neuropsychiatric development of the child in the first year of life. Significant differences were established between the groups of children and patients with MS from the control group in terms of mastering the skills of standing and walking; the presence of better motor parameters in children from patients receiving pathogenetic therapy was established too. The negative influence of interferons in the first trimester on speech skills in infants was revealed. Conclusion. The main influencing factor was mother multiple sclerosis and the pathogenetic therapy received by the mother before and during pregnancy. This fact can play a significant role in managing this infant cohort. Special exercises such as stimulation of motor and speech skills need to be included.