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Migraine Ups Risk of Obstetric Complications

Authors recommend pregnant women with migraine be treated with high-risk pregnancy protocols

MONDAY, June 28, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Pregnant women with migraine are at increased risk of having obstetric and medical complications compared to women without migraine, according to a study presented at the annual Congress of the European Academy of Neurology, held from June 19 to 20.

Nirit Lev, M.D., Ph.D., of the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva, and Emily Elefant, M.D., from the Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba — both in Israel, assessed whether women suffering from migraine are at increased risk of developing pregnancy and postpartum complications. Analysis included pregnancy and delivery records (2014 to 2019) from 145,102 women.

The researchers found that 12,222 women had migraine diagnosis and among these women, the risk of obstetric complications and postpartum depression were higher versus women without migraine. Specifically, pregnant women with migraine had an increased risk of experiencing preeclampsia and stroke. Furthermore, there was an increased incidence of cesarean section among women with migraine. The investigators also observed a tendency among women with migraine to seek more medical consultations and use more medications during pregnancy and during the postpartum period.

“Our study confirms that women who suffer from migraine are at a greater risk of a host of medical and obstetric complications,” Lev said in a statement. “As such, we are recommended that these women should be classed as ‘high-risk’ pregnancies and should therefore be treated according to a high-risk protocol.”

Abstract No. OPR-066

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