Neurology and Pregnancy : Clinical Management

Neurological concerns during pregnancy represent a small but important percentage of all neurological disease occurrences—both those that arise during pregnancy itself and existing conditions that become aggravated. In this volume, the editors and contributors offer their "best practice" advice on how to treat the afflicted mother effectively while ensuring fetal safety. Topics include imaging, diagnosis and intervention in neurological disease and specific conditions such as cerebral aneurysm, psychiatric and neuropsychiatric disorders, pre-eclampsia, epilepsy, pituitary disease, and multiple sclerosis. The book also discusses the effect of nutritional deficiencies in pregnancy.

Pregnancy complicated by neurological disorders is a challenging area for both obstetricians and neurologists. Treatment of the maternal condition often needs to be adjusted because of concerns for the fetus, and some conditions have a major impact on the method, mode, and timing of delivery. Many of the clinical problems that arise in pregnant women with a neurological disease have not been the subject of clinical trials, so management must often be based on what published evidence is available and a good understanding of the likely interactions between the condition and pregnancy and vice versa.

The editors and contributors represent a team with considerable experience in this area. They offer their "best practice" advice as how to treat the mother effectively, ensuring fetal safety, as well as embracing a philosophy that the pregnancy of a woman with a neurological disease should be made as enjoyable and rewarding for her as is possible.