Effect of pregnancy and exclusive breastfeeding on multiple sclerosis relapse rate and degree of disability within two years after delivery.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Pregnancy and lactation are important issues for women with multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pregnancy and exclusive breastfeeding on the rate of relapse and degree of disability within two years after delivery among patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 30 pregnant women with RRMS who had exclusive breastfeeding for 4 months were compared with 67 non-pregnant women with RRMS between 2012 and 2017. Each patient was examined every three months for 33 months. In the study group, patients were examined at the beginning of pregnancy, and then every three months till 24th months after delivery. RESULTS: In the study group, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) during the third trimester of pregnancy, between four to nine month after delivery, and the last 6 months of the study were significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.05). At the end of the study, the mean EDSS of the study group was significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.05). Also, EDSS during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy were significantly lower than the EDSS before pregnancy (p < 0.05). The mean number of relapses in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, between four to six months after delivery, and the total number of relapses were significantly lower than the control group. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy and exclusive breastfeeding can have a positive effect in reducing relapse rate and disability. This effect will continue until the 24th month after childbirth.