Obstetric-Gynecological Complications in Neuromuscular Disorders

Abstract

Background and Objective: The data on the obstetric and gynecological complications in patients diagnosed with neuromuscular diseases is very limited and is primarily obtained from various case reports, series, and small studies.  The objective of our study was to analyze the prevalence of these complications in a large cohort of patients with various neuromuscular diseases.

Methods: This study is a retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with various neuromuscular diseases at the University of Missouri, Columbia, from 2012 to 2017. We included patients who have at least one year follow up with us. We collected data on patient demographics, neuromuscular disease diagnosed, obstetric complications, and gynecologic complications. Data are reported as means ± SEM, and the results reported using prevalence rates.

Results: Ninety-five female patients were identified. Among them, 97% were Caucasian, and 3% were African-American with a mean age of 47.96 years.  Neuromuscular diseases identified among them are Myasthenia Gravis (44%), Muscular Dystrophy (23%), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-ALS (16%), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease-CMT (10%), and Spinal Muscular atrophy- SMA (7%). The majority of the patients reviewed have had no obstetric complications- (89.40%). The most common obstetric complication recorded was C-section (8.40%).  41% of women did not have any gynecological complaints. Urine incontinence (24.20%) is the most common complication.

Conclusion: C-sections and urinary incontinence are common obstetric and gynecological events seen in women with neuromuscular disease.