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Fertility, Pregnancy and Childbirth in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Impact of Disease-Modifying Drugs

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Abstract

In recent decades, pregnancy-related issues in multiple sclerosis (MS) have received growing interest. MS is more frequent in women than in men and typically starts during child-bearing age. An increasing number of disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) for the treatment of MS are becoming available. Gathering information on their influences on pregnancy-related issues is of crucial importance for the counselling of MS patients. As for the immunomodulatory drugs (interferons and glatiramer acetate), accumulating evidence points to the relative safety of pregnancy exposure in terms of maternal and foetal outcomes. In case of higher clinical disease activity before pregnancy, these drugs could be continued until conception. As for the ‘newer’ drugs (fingolimod, natalizumab, teriflunomide, dimethyl fumarate and alemtuzumab), the information is more limited. Whereas fingolimod and teriflunomide are likely associated with an increased risk of foetal malformations, the effects of natalizumab, dimethyl fumarate and alemtuzumab still need to be ascertained. This article provides a review of the available information on the use of DMDs during pregnancy, with a specific focus on fertility, foetal development, delivery and breast-feeding.

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Acknowledgments

Maria Pia Amato has served on scientific advisory boards for and received speaker’s honoraria from Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, Genzyme, and Teva; received research grants from Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, and Teva; and received speaker’s honoraria from Almirall. Emilio Portaccio has served on scientific advisory boards for Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Bayer and Genzyme; received speaker’s honoraria from Biogen Idec, Teva, Novartis and Genzyme; and received research support from Merck Serono. No source of funding was received to assist with the preparation of this review.

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  1. Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy

    Maria Pia Amato & Emilio Portaccio

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Amato, M.P., Portaccio, E. Fertility, Pregnancy and Childbirth in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Impact of Disease-Modifying Drugs. CNS Drugs 29, 207–220 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-015-0238-y

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