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Neurology and Psychiatry of Women pp 139–143Cite as

Stroke in Pregnancy

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Abstract

Pregnancy confers an increased risk of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, and, though uncommon, pregnancy-associated stroke is an important cause of long-term disability in young women. This chapter begins with a brief review of the physiologic and pathophysiologic features of pregnancy that contribute to stroke risk and the epidemiology of different types of stroke in pregnancy. It then moves to diagnosis and therapy. Because physicians who do not routinely treat pregnant women may shy away from decision-making due to concern for risk, it is important to emphasize the options for rapid imaging diagnosis during pregnancy. Stroke therapies have expanded greatly in recent years, and their applications demands rapid action. To provide pregnant women with the fullest opportunity to benefit from such advances, it is critical that physicians be aware of the potential therapies and their availability during pregnancy and the puerperium.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, Division of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease, Neurology Department, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Steven K. Feske

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  1. Steven K. Feske
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Correspondence to Steven K. Feske .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Mary Angela O’Neal

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Feske, S.K. (2019). Stroke in Pregnancy. In: O’Neal, M. (eds) Neurology and Psychiatry of Women. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04245-5_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04245-5_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-04244-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-04245-5

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