MedLink Neurology Podcast is delighted to feature selected episodes from BrainWaves, courtesy of James E Siegler MD, its originator and host. BrainWaves is an academic audio podcast whose mission is to educate medical providers through clinical cases and topical reviews in neurology, medicine, and the humanities, and episodes originally aired from 2016 to 2021.

Originally released: July 11, 2019

In this week's Teaching through Clinical Cases, Dr. Olga Rosenveld Thon (Drexel) walks us through the challenging management decisions that emerge in the care of women with demyelinating disease. Why are women prone to multiple sclerosis? How do pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause influence the disease course--and should these events alter the course of their therapy?

Produced by James E Siegler and Olga Thon. Music courtesy of Cellophane Sam, Chris Zabriskie, Jon Watts, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere. Sound effects by Mike Koenig and Daniel Simion. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision-making. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @brainwavesaudio for the latest updates to the podcast.

DISCLOSURES

Dr. Rosenveld Thon reports relevant financial interests in Ocrevus, as a consultant.

REFERENCES

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Bove R, Chitnis T. The role of gender and sex hormones in determining the onset and outcome of multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler 2014;20(5):520-6. PMID 24561324

Bove R. Women's issues in multiple sclerosis. Semin Neurol 2016;36(2):154-62. PMID 27116722

Confavreux C, Hutchinson M, Hours MM, Cortinovis-Tourniaire P, Moreau T. Rate of pregnancy-related relapse in multiple sclerosis. Pregnancy in Multiple Sclerosis Group. N Engl J Med 1998;339(5):285-91. PMID 9682040

Correale J, Farez MF, Ysrraelit MC. Increase in multiple sclerosis activity after assisted reproduction technology. Ann Neurol 2012;72(5):682-94. PMID 23034952

Michel L, Foucher Y, Vukusic S, et al. Increased risk of multiple sclerosis relapse after in vitro fertilisation. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2012;83(8):796-802. PMID 22693287

Nielsen NM, Westergaard T, Rostgaard K, et al. Familial risk of multiple sclerosis: a nationwide cohort study. Am J Epidemiol 2005;162(8):774-8. PMID 16120694

Ramagopalan SV, Dobson R, Meier UC, Giovannoni G. Multiple sclerosis: risk factors, prodromes, and potential causal pathways. Lancet Neurol 2010;9(7):727-39. PMID 20610348

Rankin K, Bove R. Caring for women with multiple sclerosis across the lifespan. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2018;18(7):36. PMID 29789964

We believe that the principles expressed or implied in the podcast remain valid, but certain details may be superseded by evolving knowledge since the episode’s original release date.