12 research outputs found
Neurologic Consultations and Headache during Pregnancy and in Puerperium : A Retrospective Chart Review
Headache is a common symptom during pregnancy and in puerperium that requires careful
consideration, as it may be caused by a life-threatening condition. Headaches in pregnant women
and women in puerperium are classified as primary or secondary; acute, severe and newly diagnosed
headaches should prompt further investigation. We aimed to further characterise the demographic
features, symptoms, examination findings, and neuroimaging results of cases of headache during
pregnancy and in puerperium. All pregnant women or women in postpartum conditions who
attended neurological consultations at the emergency department of the clinic for Gynaecology,
Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine of Saarland University/Germany between 2001/2015 and
2012/2019 were enrolled in this retrospective chart review. Data collected from the charts included
demographic/pregnancy characteristics, clinical features and imaging findings. Descriptive statistics
as well as binary logistic regression were performed. More than 50% of 97 patients had abnormal
findings in their neurological examination. Magnetic resonance imaging findings were pathological
for almost 20% of patients—indicating conditions such as cerebral venous thrombosis, reversible
posterior leukoencephalopathy, brain tumour and intracranial bleeding. The odds of abnormal
neuroimaging results were 2.2-times greater among women with abnormal neurological examination
findings than among those with normal examination results. In cases of headache during pregnancy
and in puerperium, neuroimaging should be indicated early on. Further research is needed to
determine which conditions indicate a need for immediate neuroimaging