Recommendations about multiple sclerosis management during pregnancy, partum and post-partum: Consensus position of the portuguese multiple sclerosis study group and the portuguese society of obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis typically affects young women of reproductive age. Therefore, all healthcare providers involved in the follow-up of multiple sclerosis patients must be prepared to discuss pregnancy and breastfeeding issues, and provide the best possible counselling. However, there are still many doubts and heterogeneous clinical approaches partly due to the lack of consensus and guidelines. Concerning the handling of disease modifying therapies during pregnancy and the postpartum period, uncertainties have been complicated by the increase in recent years of the number of available treatments. This article aims to present the state-of-the-art and provide guidance based on the best level of available evidence and expert opinion regarding the management of multiple sclerosis patients at different stages: pregnancy planning, pregnancy, partum, and the postpartum period.