The effect of pregnancy in Parkinson's disease

Mov Disord. 2000 Jan;15(1):132-5. doi: 10.1002/1531-8257(200001)15:1<132::aid-mds1020>3.0.co;2-c.

Abstract

Pregnancy in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) is a rare occurrence. Previous reports based on retrospective analysis suggest that pregnancy may have a deleterious effect on PD. We describe the effects of pregnancy on the symptomatology of a 33-year-old woman with PD using quantitative neurologic and quality-of-life scales prepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum. During her pregnancy, she was only treated with carbidopa/levodopa. The pregnancy resulted in a normal full-term vaginal delivery of a healthy infant. Significant worsening of this patient's motor symptoms occurred during pregnancy without return to baseline at 15 months postpartum. Pregnancy may exacerbate PD and may have a long-term negative impact on the course of the illness. This report may assist physicians in the counseling of patients with young-onset PD who wish to consider pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiparkinson Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiparkinson Agents / adverse effects
  • Carbidopa / administration & dosage
  • Carbidopa / adverse effects
  • Disease Progression
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Combinations
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Levodopa / administration & dosage
  • Levodopa / adverse effects
  • Neurologic Examination / drug effects
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnosis*
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy Complications / drug therapy
  • Quality of Life

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Drug Combinations
  • carbidopa, levodopa drug combination
  • Levodopa
  • Carbidopa