MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
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Dr. Matthew Robbins[/caption]
Matthew S. Robbins, MD, FAHS
Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Chief of Neurology, Jack D. Weiler Hospital
Montefiore Medical Center
Director of Inpatient Services, Montefiore Headache Center
Associate Program Director, Neurology Residency
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Robbins: It is now well-established that having a history of migraine increases the risk of having vascular and obstetrical complications for pregnant women. What is not known is if having active migraine during pregnancy would increase complications later on in that very same pregnancy. Having severe migraine attacks during pregnancy may indicate particularly severe and active disease. We evaluated pregnant women who presented to the hospital setting with acute, severe migraine attacks, and then reviewed their records for what happened during the same pregnancy when they delivered. We found that compared to local and national rates, pregnant women with severe migraine attacks presenting to the hospital have increased rates of preeclampsia, preterm delivery, and low birthweight. This risk was particularly elevated in pregnant women age 35 years or older.