Abstract : Certain neurologic and psychiatric syndromes are characteristically associated with pregnancy. This review provides an insight into the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of these conditions.
The conditions such as posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, postpartum angiopathy, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, eclamptic seizures, acute fatty liver of pregnancy, chorea gravidarum, restless legs syndrome, dystonia, Wernicke’s encephalopathy, Bell’s palsy, compression neuropathies (meralgia paresthetica, carpal tunnel syndrome, obturator neuropathy, and iliohypogastric neuropathy), depression, and postpartum psychosis are discussed.
The benefits of radiologic tests and prescription of drugs for these conditions have to be weighed against the potential harm that they can cause during pregnancy. It is imperative for physicians and gynecologists to be well-versed with these conditions for timely diagnosis, treatment, and appropriate referral to improve the outcome.