Influence of Pregnancy on Neuromyelitis Optica From an Ophthalmological Point of View: a Case Report and Literature Review
Abstract Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO, Devic’s disease) is a rare demyelinating disease of the central nervous system leading to optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. The clinical course of the disease and ocular changes in pregnancy is still not well known. Here, we present the subclinical ophthalmological changes which are evaluated by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) during the 39 weeks gestation and postpartum period in a pregnant woman with a diagnosis of NMO. Additionally, we present the obstetric and neurologic course of our patient and review the literature. A 30-year-old female with a history of NMO had been ophthalmologically examined and performed SD-OCT every trimester periodically to observe the effects of pregnancy on the disease course. No ophthalmological changes were observed during the pregnancy and postpartum period. Cesarean delivery was preferred due to obstetric indication. The patient was discharged on the second day of postpartum period.