Problem: Myasthenia gravis (MG), an autoimmune neuromuscular disease affecting women of childbearing age, exerts an impact on pregnancy, and vice versa. The purposes of the study were to evaluate adverse pregnancy outcomes and postpartum exacerbation in a cohort of Asian MG women, and to explore the predictors for these outcomes.
Methods of study: Thirty-seven MG pregnancies of 33 women followed in Xiangya and the second Xiangya hospitals between January 2012 and January 2022, were included in this study. Baseline maternal data, maternal complications, and neonatal outcomes were extracted from medical records. MG courses were evaluated during pregnancy and postpartum 1 year.
Results: In 5.4% of cases, MG exacerbation was reported during gestation, mostly in the third trimester, and in 38.9% in the postpartum period. Maternal complications were measured in 59.5% of women, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) taking the lead (29.7%) followed by premature rupture of membranes (PROMs) (18.9%). Transient neonatal MG (TNMG) and hyperbilirubinemia (HB) were seen in 24.3% of newborns. Body mass index (BMI) was the only independent predictor for maternal obstetric complications (p = .017), while thyroid disorders for GDM (p = .006). Younger mothers tended to give birth to babies with TNMG (p = .015). Primipara was the only risk factor for HB (p = .015). Higher gestational BMI gain (GBG) (p = .049) and without thyroid disorder (p = .017) were independent risk factors for puerperal exacerbation. Activated partial thromboplastin time and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels could be reliable to predict puerperal exacerbation.
Conclusions: Most MG patients have unaffected courses during pregnancy but face a higher rate of maternal and fetal complications. Risk factors identified in our study aid the management of pregnancy in MG women.
Keywords: complications; myasthenia gravis; neonatal outcomes; postpartum exacerbation; pregnancy; thyroid function.
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