Pregnancy prevalence and outcomes after optic neuritis in South Korea

To compare pregnancy rates and complications in women with and without a history of optic neuritis (ON). A nationwide, population-based, retrospective study using data from the Korean National Health Claims from January 2011, to December 2017 was done. ON cohort (ON group) consisting of women aged 18 to 50 with a history of ON and 1:3 age-matched controls (control group) were compared for pregnancy and delivery rates using logistic regression after adjusting for possible confounders. Pregnancy-ON cohort (pregnancy-ON group), women aged 18 to 55 with a history of ON and pregnancy, and 1:3 age at pregnancy matched controls (pregnancy-control group) were analyzed for pregnancy complications using logistic regression after adjusting for covariates. ON group ( n = 2516) showed decreased odds ratio (OR) for pregnancy [Adjusted OR2: 0.716, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.626–0.820] and delivery (adjusted OR2: 0.647, 95% CI: 0.554–0.756) compared to controls ( n = 7548). Pregnancy-ON group ( n = 550) showed increased risk of delayed fetal growth (adjusted OR2: 9.867, 95% CI: 1.224–79.564), pre-eclampsia (adjusted OR2: 8.327, 95% CI: 2.911–23.819), preterm delivery (adjusted OR2: 3.914, 95% CI: 2.667–5.742), pregnancy and postpartum infection (adjusted OR1: 1.671, 95% CI: 1.296–2.154), diabetes in pregnancy (adjusted OR2: 1.365, 95% CI: 1.062–1.754) compared to pregnancy-control group ( n = 1650). Our population-based cohort study suggests that history of ON is associated with decreased pregnancy and delivery rates. It may be a risk factor for various pregnancy complications.