Intercurrent disease in pregnancy
An intercurrent (ie concurrent, concomitant or, in most cases, pre-existing) disease in pregnancy is a disease that is not directly caused by the pregnancy (in contrast to a complication of pregnancy), but which may become worse or be a potential risk to the pregnancy (such as causing pregnancy complications). A major component of this risk can result from necessary use of drugs in pregnancy to manage the disease.
In such circumstances, women who wish to continue with a pregnancy require extra medical care, often from an interdisciplinary team. Such a team might include (besides an obstetrician) a specialist in the disorder and other practitioners (for example, maternal-fetal specialists or obstetric physicians, dieticians, etc.).[MMHE 1]
Endocrine disorders
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus and pregnancy deals with the interactions of diabetes mellitus (not restricted to gestational diabetes) and pregnancy. Risks for the child include miscarriage, growth restriction, growth acceleration, fetal obesity (macrosomia), polyhydramnios and birth defects.
Thyroid disease
Thyroid disease in pregnancy can, if uncorrected, cause adverse effects on fetal and maternal well-being. The deleterious effects of thyroid dysfunction can also extend beyond pregnancy and delivery to affect neurointellectual development in the early life of the child. Demand for thyroid hormones is increased during pregnancy which may cause a previously unnoticed thyroid disorder to worsen. The most effective way of screening for thyroid dysfunction is not known.[1] A review found that more women were diagnosed with thyroid dysfunction when all pregnant women were tested instead of just testing those at ‘high-risk’ of thyroid problems (those with family history, signs or symptoms).[1] Finding more women with thyroid dysfunction meant that the women could have treatment and management through their pregnancies. However the outcomes of the pregnancies were surprisingly similar so more research is needed to look at the effects of screening all women for thyroid problems.[1]
Hypercoagulability
Hypercoagulability in pregnancy is the propensity of pregnant women to develop thrombosis (blood clots). Pregnancy itself is a factor of hypercoagulability (pregnancy-induced hypercoagulability), as a physiologically adaptive mechanism to prevent post partum bleeding.[2] However, when combined with any additional underlying hypercoagulable state, the risk of thrombosis or embolism may become substantial.[2]
Infections
Vertically transmitted infections
Many infectious diseases have a risk of vertical transmission to the fetus. Examples include:
- Chickenpox
- Chlamydia[3]
- Herpes simplex or Neonatal herpes simplex
- HIV[4][5]
- Human T-lymphotropic virus[6]
- Syphilis[7]
Infections in pregnancy also raise particular concerns about whether or not to use drugs in pregnancy (that is, antibiotics or antivirals) to treat them. For example, pregnant women who contract H1N1 influenza infection are recommended to receive antiviral therapy with either oseltamivir (which is the preferred medication) or zanamivir.[8] Both amantadine and rimantadine have been found to be teratogenic and embryotoxic when given at high doses in animal studies.[8]
Candidal vulvovaginitis
In pregnancy, changes in the levels of female sex hormones, such as estrogen, make a woman more likely to develop candidal vulvovaginitis. During pregnancy, the Candida fungus is more prevalent (common), and recurrent infection is also more likely.[9] There is no clear evidence that treatment of asymptomatic candidal vulvovaginitis in pregnancy reduces the risk of preterm birth.[10] Candidal vulvovaginitis in pregnancy should be treated with intravaginal clotrimazole or nystatin for at least 7 days.[11]
Bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis is an imbalance of naturally occurring bacterial flora in the vagina. Bacterial vaginosis as an intercurrent disease in pregnancy may increase the risk of pregnancy complications, most notably premature birth or miscarriage. However, this risk is small overall and appears more significant in women who have had such complications in an earlier pregnancy.[12]
Valvular heart disease
In case of valvular heart disease in pregnancy, the maternal physiological changes in pregnancy confer additional load on the heart and may lead to complications.
In individuals who require an artificial heart valve, consideration must be made for deterioration of the valve over time (for bioprosthetic valves) versus the risks of blood clotting in pregnancy with mechanical valves with the resultant need of drugs in pregnancy in the form of anticoagulants.
Other autoimmune disorders
Celiac disease
Untreated celiac disease can cause spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), intrauterine growth restriction, small for gestational age, low birthweight and preterm birth. Often reproductive disorders are the only manifestation of undiagnosed celiac disease and most cases are not recognized. Complications or failures of pregnancy cannot be explained simply by malabsorption, but by the autoimmune response elicited by the exposure to gluten, which causes damage to the placenta. The gluten-free diet avoids or reduces the risk of developing reproductive disorders in pregnant women with celiac disease.[13][14] Also, pregnancy can be a trigger for the development of celiac disease in genetically susceptible women who are consuming gluten.[15]
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus and pregnancy confers an increased rate of fetal death in utero and spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), as well as of neonatal lupus.
Behçet's disease
Pregnancy does not have an adverse effect on the course of Behçet's disease and may possibly ameliorate its course.[16][17] Still, there is a substantial variability in clinical course between patients and even for different pregnancies in the same patient.[16] Also, the other way around, Behçet's disease confers an increased risk of pregnancy complications, miscarriage and Cesarean section.[17]
Multiple sclerosis
Being pregnant decreases the risk of relapse in multiple sclerosis; however, during the first months after delivery the risk increases.[18] Overall, pregnancy does not seem to influence long-term disability.[18] Multiple sclerosis does not increase the risk of congenital abnormality or miscarriage.[19][20]
Others
The following conditions may also become worse or be a potential risk to the pregnancy:
- Cancer[MMHE 2]
- Chronic hypertension[MMHE 3]
- Cirrhosis[MMHE 4]
- Congenital disorders that may be passed on to offspring
- Heart defects, especially primary pulmonary hypertension and Eisenmenger's syndrome[MMHE 5]
- Kidney disorders[MMHE 6]
- Mental health.
- Depression has been linked to higher rates of preterm delivery.[21]
- Respiratory disorders and diseases (associated, for example, with placental abruption)[22]
- Seizure disorders[MMHE 7]
- Structural abnormalities in the cervix
- Structural abnormalities in the uterus
- Viral hepatitis[MMHE 8]
References
- Spencer, L; Bubner, T; Bain, E; Middleton, P (21 September 2015). "Screening and subsequent management for thyroid dysfunction pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy for improving maternal and infant health". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 9: CD011263. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011263.pub2. PMID 26387772.
- Page 264 in: Gresele, Paolo (2008). Platelets in hematologic and cardiovascular disorders: a clinical handbook. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-88115-3.
- Yu J, Wu S, Li F, Hu L (January 2009). "Vertical transmission of Chlamydia trachomatis in Chongqing China". Curr. Microbiol. 58 (4): 315–320. doi:10.1007/s00284-008-9331-5. PMID 19123031.
- K E Ugen; J J Goedert; J Boyer; Y Refaeli; I Frank; W V Williams; A Willoughby; S Landesman; H Mendez; A Rubinstein (June 1992). "Vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Reactivity of maternal sera with glycoprotein 120 and 41 peptides from HIV type 1". J Clin Invest. 89 (6): 1923–1930. doi:10.1172/JCI115798. PMC 295892. PMID 1601999.
- Fawzi WW, Msamanga G, Hunter D, Urassa E, Renjifo B, Mwakagile D, Hertzmark E, Coley J, Garland M, Kapiga S, Antelman G, Essex M, Spiegelman D (1999). "Randomized trial of vitamin supplements in relation to vertical transmission of HIV-1 in Tanzania". Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 23 (3): 246–254. doi:10.1097/00042560-200003010-00006. PMID 10839660.
- Hisada M, Maloney EM, Sawada T, Miley WJ, Palmer P, Hanchard B, Goedert JJ, Manns A (2002). "Virus markers associated with vertical transmission of human T lymphotropic virus type 1 in Jamaica". Clin Infect Dis. 34 (12): 1551–1557. doi:10.1086/340537. PMID 12032888.
- Lee MJ, Hallmark RJ, Frenkel LM, Del Priore G (1998). "Maternal syphilis and vertical perinatal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 infection". International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. 63 (3): 246–254. doi:10.1016/S0020-7292(98)00165-9. PMID 9989893.
- Health Care Guideline: Routine Prenatal Care. Fourteenth Edition. Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine By the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. July 2010.
- Sobel, JD (9 June 2007). "Vulvovaginal candidosis". Lancet. 369 (9577): 1961–71. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60917-9. PMID 17560449.
- Roberts, C. L.; Rickard, K.; Kotsiou, G.; Morris, J. M. (2011). "Treatment of asymptomatic vaginal candidiasis in pregnancy to prevent preterm birth: An open-label pilot randomized controlled trial". BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 11: 18. doi:10.1186/1471-2393-11-18. PMC 3063235. PMID 21396090.
- Ratcliffe, Stephen D.; Baxley, Elizabeth G.; Cline, Matthew K. (2008). Family Medicine Obstetrics. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 273. ISBN 0323043062.
- Bacterial vaginosis from National Health Service, UK. Page last reviewed: 03/10/2013
- Tersigni, C.; Castellani, R.; de Waure, C.; Fattorossi, A.; De Spirito, M.; Gasbarrini, A.; Scambia, G.; Di Simone, N. (2014). "Celiac disease and reproductive disorders: meta-analysis of epidemiologic associations and potential pathogenic mechanisms". Human Reproduction Update. 20 (4): 582–593. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmu007. ISSN 1355-4786. PMID 24619876.
- Saccone G, Berghella V, Sarno L, Maruotti GM, Cetin I, Greco L, Khashan AS, McCarthy F, Martinelli D, Fortunato F, Martinelli P (Oct 9, 2015). "Celiac disease and obstetric complications: a systematic review and metaanalysis". Am J Obstet Gynecol. 214: 225–34. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2015.09.080. PMID 26432464.
- "The Gluten Connection". Health Canada. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
- Uzun, S.; Alpsoy, E.; Durdu, M.; Akman, A. (2003). "The clinical course of Behçet's disease in pregnancy: A retrospective analysis and review of the literature". The Journal of dermatology. 30 (7): 499–502. doi:10.1111/j.1346-8138.2003.tb00423.x. PMID 12928538.
- Jadaon, J.; Shushan, A.; Ezra, Y.; Sela, H. Y.; Ozcan, C.; Rojansky, N. (2005). "Behcet's disease and pregnancy". Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 84 (10): 939–944. doi:10.1111/j.0001-6349.2005.00761.x. PMID 16167908.
- Compston A, Coles A (October 2008). "Multiple sclerosis". Lancet. 372 (9648): 1502–17. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61620-7. PMID 18970977.
- Multiple Sclerosis: Pregnancy Q&A from Cleveland Clinic, retrieved January 2014.
- Ramagopalan, S. V.; Guimond, C.; Criscuoli, M.; Dyment, D. A.; Orton, S. M.; Yee, I. M.; Ebers, G. C.; Sadovnick, D. (2010). "Congenital Abnormalities and Multiple Sclerosis". BMC Neurology. 10: 115. doi:10.1186/1471-2377-10-115. PMC 3020672. PMID 21080921.
- Li, D; Liu, L; Odouli, R (2009). "Presence of depressive symptoms during early pregnancy and the risk of preterm delivery: a prospective cohort study". Human Reproduction. 24 (1): 146–153. doi:10.1093/humrep/den342. PMID 18948314.
- Getahun, D; Ananth, CV; Peltier, MR; Smulian, JC; Vintzileos, AM (2006). "Acute and chronic respiratory diseases in pregnancy: associations with placental abruption". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 195 (4): 1180–4. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2006.07.027. PMID 17000252.
- Dombrowski, MP (2006). "Asthma and pregnancy". Obstetrics and gynecology. 108 (3 Pt 1): 667–81. doi:10.1097/01.AOG.0000235059.84188.9c. PMID 16946229.
- Louik, C; Schatz, M; Hernández-Díaz, S; Werler, MM; Mitchell, AA (2010). "Asthma in Pregnancy and its Pharmacologic Treatment". Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 105 (2): 110–7. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2010.05.016. PMC 2953247. PMID 20674820.
- Merck. "Overview of Disease During Pregnancy". Merck Manual Home Health Handbook. Merck Sharp & Dohme.
- Merck. "Cancer during pregnancy". Merck Manual Home Health Handbook. Merck Sharp & Dohme.
- Merck. "High blood pressure during pregnancy". Merck Manual Home Health Handbook. Merck Sharp & Dohme.
- Merck. "Liver and gallbladder disorders during pregnancy". Merck Manual Home Health Handbook. Merck Sharpe & Dohme.
- Merck. "Heart disorders during pregnancy". Merck Manual Home Health Handbook. Merck Sharp & Dohme.
- Merck. "Kidney disorders during pregnancy". Merck Manual Home Health Handbook. Merck Sharp & Dohme.
- Merck. "Seizure disorders during pregnancy". Merck Manual Home Health Handbook. Merck Sharp & Dohme.
- Merck. "Liver and gallbladder disorders during pregnancy". Merck Manual Home Health Handbook. Merck Sharpe & Dohme.