Augmentation du risque de poussée de sclérose en plaques après stimulation ovarienne pour fécondation in vitro

Optimizing the "Time to pregnancy" in women with multiple sclerosis: the OPTIMUS Delphi survey

Background

The debate on how to manage women affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) during reproductive age is still open, as is the issue of fertility in such patients. Main issue regard the identification of the optimal window for pregnancy and how to deal with medical therapy before and during conception. The aim of this Delphi consensus was to collect the opinions of a multidisciplinary group, involving reproductive medicine specialists and neurologists with experience in the management of multiple sclerosis women with reproductive desire.

Methods

Four experts plus scientific coordinators developed a questionnaire distributed online to 10 neurologists and later discussed the responses and amended a list of statements. The statements were then distributed via an online survey to 23 neurologists (comprising the first 10), who voted on their level of agreement/disagreement with each statement. Consensus was achieved if agreement or disagreement with a statement exceeded 66%.

Results

Twenty-one statements reached consensus after two rounds of voting, leading to the following main recommendations: (1) Fertility evaluation should be suggested to wMS, in case of the need to shorten time to pregnancy and before treatment switch in women on DMTs contraindicated in pregnancy, particularly in case of highly active disease and age > 35 years. (2) ART should not be discouraged in wMS, but the use of DMTs until pregnancy confirmation should be suggested; ART may be considered in order to reduce time to pregnancy in MS women with a reduced ovarian reserve and/or age > 35 years, but in case of an expected poor ART prognosis and the need for more than one ART cycle, a switch to a high-efficacy DMD before ART should be offered. (3) Oocyte cryopreservation may be considered in women with reduced ovarian reserve, with unpredictable time to complete diagnostic workup and achieve disease control; a risk/cost-benefit analysis must be performed in women >35 years, considering the diminished ovarian reserve.

Conclusion

This consensus will help MS neurologists to support family planning in wMS, respecting MS therapeutic needs while also taking into account the safety and impact of advancing age on fertility.

Assisted Reproductive Technology and Disease Management in Infertile Women with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) predominantly affects women of fertile age. Various aspects of MS could impact on fertility, such as sexual dysfunction, endocrine alterations, autoimmune imbalances, and disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). The proportion of women with MS (wMS) requesting infertility management and assisted reproductive technology (ART) is increasing over time. In this review, we report on data regarding ART in wMS and address safety issues. We also discuss the clinical aspects to consider when planning a course of treatment for infertility, and provide updated recommendations to guide neurologists in the management of wMS undergoing ART, with the goal of reducing the risk of disease activation after this procedure. According to most studies, there is an increase in relapse rate and magnetic resonance imaging activity after ART. Therefore, to reduce the risk of relapse, ART should be considered in wMS with stable disease. In wMS, especially those with high disease activity, fertility issues should be discussed early as the choice of DMT, and fertility preservation strategies might be proposed in selected cases to ensure both disease control and a safe pregnancy. For patients with stable disease taking DMTs compatible with pregnancy, treatment should not be interrupted before ART. If the ongoing therapy is contraindicated in pregnancy, then it should be switched to a compatible therapy. Prior to beginning fertility treatments in wMS, it would be reasonable to assess vitamin D serum levels, thyroid function and its antibody serum levels; start folic acid supplementation; and ensure smoking and alcohol cessation, adequate sleep, and food hygiene. Cervico-vaginal swabs for Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, and Chlamydia trachomatis, as well as serology for viral hepatitis, HIV, syphilis, and cytomegalovirus, should be performed. Steroids could be administered under specific indications. Although the available data do not clearly show a definite raised relapse risk associated with a specific ART protocol, it seems reasonably safe to prefer the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists for ovarian stimulation. Close clinical and radiological monitoring is reasonably recommended, particularly after hormonal stimulation and in case of pregnancy failure.

Primary Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein-Immunoglobulin G-associated Optic Neuritis Presenting after a Frozen Embryo Transfer

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-immunoglobulin G-associated optic neuritis (ON) is a newly recognized antibody-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, resulting in acute visual loss and pain with eye movement. The effects of pregnancy on disease pathogenesis remain incompletely understood. Herein, we present a novel association between a frozen embryo transfer (FET) and the first manifestation of MOG-ON in a previously healthy patient with unexplained infertility. The patient presented with acute bilateral visual loss 3 weeks after a single FET and was found to test positive for MOG antibodies with an otherwise unremarkable workup. The patient's vision returned to baseline with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone and therapeutic plasma exchange. This is the first published case highlighting an association between MOG-ON and assisted reproductive technology (ART) in a patient without prior risk factors. Further studies are needed to clarify the effects of ART and pregnancy in general on disease pathogenesis.

Pregnancy with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is usually diagnosed between twenty and forty years of age, when people often plan to have children. A lot has been said about the effect of pregnancy on the course of MS. The individual factors responsible for the disease modifying effect of pregnancy are not well determined. Having MS neither affects the fertility or the course of pregnancy itself. During pregnancy, many women find that their symptoms stay the same or even improve. Epidural and spinal analgesia appear to be safe and in general are not contraindicated for patients with MS. The management of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) in pregnancy is a new issue for consideration in the clinical practice. There is limited information available into the safety of DMT use during pregnancy, especially for the most recent ones. In general, discontinuation of DMTs is recommended before conception to minimize risk of fetal harm. Women with very active MS before pregnancy who stop second-line treatments may show an increase in disease activity during pregnancy. Therefore, it might be discussed to maintain patients on DMTs until pregnancy is confirmed, and sometimes throughout pregnancy, to avoid a rebound of disease activity and severe relapses during pregnancy in very active patients.

Sex effects across the lifespan in women with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating central nervous system disorder that is more common in women, with onset often during reproductive years. The female:male sex ratio of MS rose in several regions over the last century, suggesting a possible sex by environmental interaction increasing MS risk in women. Since many with MS are in their childbearing years, family planning, including contraceptive and disease-modifying therapy (DMT) counselling, are important aspects of MS care in women. While some DMTs are likely harmful to the developing fetus, others can be used shortly before or until pregnancy is confirmed. Overall, pregnancy decreases risk of MS relapses, whereas relapse risk may increase postpartum, although pregnancy does not appear to be harmful for long-term prognosis of MS. However, ovarian aging may contribute to disability progression in women with MS. Here, we review sex effects across the lifespan in women with MS, including the effect of sex on MS susceptibility, effects of pregnancy on MS disease activity, and management strategies around pregnancy, including risks associated with DMT use before and during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding. We also review reproductive aging and sexual dysfunction in women with MS.

Impact of sex hormones on immune function and multiple sclerosis development

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) affecting young people and leading to demyelination and neurodegeneration. The disease is clearly more common in women, in whom incidence has been rising. Gender differences include: earlier disease onset and more frequent relapses in women; and faster progression and worse outcomes in men. Hormone-related physiological conditions in women such as puberty, pregnancy, puerperium, and menopause also exert significant influence both on disease prevalence as well as on outcomes. Hormonal and/or genetic factors are therefore believed to be involved in regulating the course of disease. In this review, we discuss clinical evidence for the impact of sex hormones (estrogens, progesterone, prolactin, and testosterone) on MS and attempt to elucidate the hormonal and immunological mechanisms potentially underlying these changes. We also review current knowledge on the relationship between sex hormones and resident CNS cells and provide new insights in the context of MS. Understanding these molecular mechanisms may contribute to the development of new and safer treatments for both men and women.

Caring for Women with Multiple Sclerosis Across the Lifespan

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Caring for women with multiple sclerosis (MS), whose first symptoms typically begin during the childbearing years, requires a comprehensive approach to management across a range of reproductive exposures, and beyond through menopause.

RECENT FINDINGS

This article summarizes what is known about the disease course in women with MS, how it differs from men, and the current state of knowledge regarding effects of reproductive exposures (menarche, childbearing, menopause) on MS-related inflammation and neurodegeneration. Recent findings regarding pregnancy-associated relapses in the treatment era, protective effects of breastfeeding, and care for women during the menopausal transition are reviewed. Then, updated recommendations to guiding women during childbearing-including pre-conception counseling, discontinuation of MS therapies, and management of postpartum relapses-are provided. Whenever possible, areas of uncertainty and avenues for future research are highlighted. From childhood through the postreproductive life stages, gender and hormonal exposures appear to shape an individual's risk for MS, as well as the experience of living with MS.

Management of multiple sclerosis during pregnancy and the reproductive years: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To examine the evidence guiding management of multiple sclerosis (MS) in reproductive-aged women.

DATA SOURCES

We conducted an electronic literature search using PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, and other available resources. The following keywords were used: "multiple sclerosis" and "pregnancy." We manually searched the reference lists of identified studies.

METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION

Two reviewers categorized all studies identified in the search by management topic, including effect of pregnancy on MS course, fetal risks associated with disease-modifying treatments during pregnancy, and management of patients off disease-modifying treatment. We categorized studies by strength of evidence and included prior meta-analyses and systematic studies. These studies were then summarized and discussed by an expert multidisciplinary team.

TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS

The risk of MS relapses is decreased during pregnancy and increased postpartum. Data are lacking regarding the risks of disease-modifying treatments during pregnancy. There may be an increased risk of MS relapses after use of assisted reproductive techniques. There does not appear to be a major increase in adverse outcomes in newborns of mothers with MS.

CONCLUSION

Although there are many unmet research needs, the reviewed data support the conclusion that in the majority of cases, women with MS can safely choose to become pregnant, give birth, and breastfeed children. Clinical management should be individualized to optimize both the mother's reproductive outcomes and MS course.