C-Sections More Common in Women with Multiple Sclerosis, Primarily for Obstetrical Reasons, suggests study

• In the study CANPREG-MS, 170 deliveries were recorded with 63 (37.1%) deliveries being C-sections. This was statistically higher than the general Canadian population rate of 28% (p<0.0085).

• 66.7% of C-sections were unplanned and also performed for obstetric reasons rather than MS-specific concerns.

• C-section deliveries occurred at an earlier gestational age than vaginal births, but there was no difference in birth weights between groups.

• Postdelivery relapses and pseudo-relapses of MS were similarly low, at 3.2% for each in the first month postpartum and irrespective of decisions over disease-modifying treatment in this area.

This study indicates that more women with MS deliver through C-section than other individuals, and this occurs mostly due to obstetric causes rather than direct causes from MS. Low rates of post-delivery relapses in wMS following delivery are reassuring in the care of stable disease in the wMS who receive C-sections. This is very vital for all the medical care providers managing the pre-conceptual period and delivering a pregnancy of a wMS patient.

Reference:

Sadovnick, D., Criscuoli, M., Yee, I., Carruthers, R., Devonshire, V., Smyth, P., & Krysko, K. M. (2024). Cesarian sections in women with multiple sclerosis: A Canadian prospective pregnancy study. Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical, 10(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/20552173241285546