Neurology and Pregnancy: Clinical Management

Book Preface

Neurological disease in pregnancy is now the second commonest cause of maternal death in the United Kingdom. Many of the pregnant or puerperal women who have died from epilepsy, subarachnoid haemorrhage and other neurological disease have done so without the benefit of pre-pregnancy counseling, appropriate multidisciplinary care, or timely involvement of neurologists. Therefore the development of a specific text addressing the issues of management of neurological disease in pregnancy is timely.

This authoritative reference brings together experts in the field of neurology, fetal medicine, obstetrics, genetics and psychiatry. The general chapters cover important issues such as pharmacokinetics of drugs in pregnancy and breastfeeding and neuroimaging, an understanding of which is a prerequisite to optimising management of pregnant women with neurological problems. Part II covers pre-existing as well as new-onset neurological disease presenting in pregnancy, and includes chapters on common clinical problems such as blackouts, headaches and epilepsy, as well as dealing with less common problems such as peripheral nerve disease, myasthenia and stroke, which are also comprehensively covered.

Many of the chapters are the result of multidisciplinary collaboration reflecting the teamwork that should accompany optimal management of neurological disease in pregnancy. This book will provide a useful reference for all those who manage women of childbearing age with neurological disease as well as for obstetric care providers faced with common and less common neurological conditions complicating pregnancy.