Teresa corona
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Neurol Neurophysiol
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) as other well recognized immunologically mediated diseases have a strong female predominance. Endocrine and immunological aspects are relevant where estrogens specifically estriol at a high dose, similar to that of a normal pregnancy has been shown to decrease the volume and number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions in female brains, though side effects overcome its benefits. Special considerations have to be made when referring to treatment options due to more severe side effects of disease modifying agents in women. Physiological conditions known to increase relapse rates, the post partum period, need to be carefully evaluated when considering treatment options. MS impact over quality of life and other psychosocial issues must be meticulously studied and cared for as are the rest of the MS in women previously outlined. To determine the most frequent clinical presentation of relapses during pregnancy and postnatal period in women with Multiple Sclerosis. We reviewed 100 patients, divided in two groups. A: 40 patients with MS diagnosed before their first pregnancy. B: 60 patients diagnosed with MS after their first pregnancy. Spinal cord symptoms were the most common clinical presentation in relapses. The relapse rate percentage in the twelve month period including pregnancy and three postnatal months was 17.1%. There were no differences in disease progression between both groups. The relapse rate result differs from previous studies. This finding could be attribuited to different genetic and environmental factors. The follow-up data did not demonstrate an effect of breastfeeding on either relapse rate or disability.
Teresa Corona Vázquez MD, Neurologist, graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the National Autonomous University (UNAM). She completed her residency in Neurology with honors at the National Medical Center UNAM. She is a General Director of the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery. She is a Senior researcher from the National Institutes of Health and member of the National Researcher?s (CONACYT). She has 225 national and international publications in peer reviewed journals and presentations in academic fora and over 450 citations of her work.
