Women who suffer from migraines may be at greater risk for pregnancy complications, from high blood pressure to premature birth. This is indicated by the study that will be presented at the 74th annual congress of the American Academy of Neurology to be held in Seattle.
“One in 5 women of reproductive age suffers from migraines, but the impact of this disorder on pregnancy has never been well understood,” said the lead author of the paper. Alexandra Purdue-Smithe, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “Our large study has highlighted links between migraines and complications in pregnancy that could help inform doctors and pregnant women of the potential risks they may face,” she added.
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The study looked at data on over 30,000 pregnancies in a total of 19,000 women over a 20-year period. 11% of the women had been diagnosed with migraine before pregnancy. Compared to pregnant women who did not suffer from migraine, women with this disorder had a 17% greater risk of premature birth, a 28% greater risk of high blood pressure in pregnancy, a 40% greater risk of suffering from pre-eclampsia (a disorder also characterized by high blood pressure but not only).
Of the 3,881 pregnancies in migraine patients, 10% resolved in premature birth versus 8% of migraine-free pregnant women. High blood pressure in pregnancy affected 7% of migraine women versus 5% of other pregnant women. Pre-eclampsia affected 6% of migraines versus 3% of others.
Although the absolute risk of complications is low, it is good for women suffering from migraines to be aware of the potential risks of pregnancy and for doctors to carry out closer checks on pregnant women with migraines, so as to intervene immediately in the event of the appearance of complications.