Pregnancy and delivery in patients with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease and related disorders

Background Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease is the most common inherited peripheral neuropathy and many patients with Charcot–Marie–Tooth are women of childbearing age. Guidelines for managing pregnancy in Charcot–Marie–Tooth are lacking.

Aims To assess the impact of pregnancy on Charcot–Marie–Tooth and how Charcot–Marie–Tooth affects pregnancy, delivery and postnatal care.

Methods A retrospective questionnaire exploring disease course during pregnancy, delivery, pregnancy complications, anaesthetic management and puerperium was administered to 92 patients with Charcot–Marie–Tooth and related disorders.

Results Worsening of Charcot–Marie–Tooth symptoms were reported in 37% of pregnant patients which resolved after delivery in half of the patients. No significant increase in pregnancy, delivery and anaesthetic complications were observed and the type of delivery did not significantly differ from the normal population.

Conclusions While these results are reassuring, ideally an international prospective study should be done to confirm these results and to develop practice guidelines on the management of pregnancy in Charcot–Marie–Tooth.