Stroke and pregnancy: what management should be recommended?

The impact of stroke can be devastating when it occurs during pregnancy. Most of strokes occur in peri partum or in the six weeks following delivery. These periods are considered of high vascular risk. Unfortunately, there are very limited clinical data and lack of prospective studies because of the exclusion of pregnant women or women in post-partum from clinical trials. In this work, we will try to summarise the different types of strokes in pregnancy and their aetiologies. We will also study the risk factors involved in these kinds of strokes, and how to manage them. The indications of the different therapeutic weapons usually proposed for stroke will be detailed (thrombolysis, thrombectomy), as well as their potential risks. We will also discuss about the vascular risks associated with eclampsia and pre-eclampsia, as well as the PRES syndrome.