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Neurology (Expert Forum)
cavernous hemangioma of brain
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cavernous hemangioma of brain
by Bshekinah, Nov 10, 2001 12:00AM
Ten years ago I was diagnosed with a 1.5cm cavernous hemangioma in the middle of the right lobe of my brain. I have periodic MRI's to make sure that it is not changing.
My question is regarding having more children. I am 33 years old with 2 daughters, ages 11 and 13. My husband and I have been trying for years to have more children. (I used clomid to achieve 2nd pregnancy.) Would it be dangerous for me to have another child since I have this condition? I have been told different things by different doctors. At this time my husband and I really want to have another child. I just had an MRI last week, which showed no change.
Thanks in advance.
Bshekinah
My question is regarding having more children. I am 33 years old with 2 daughters, ages 11 and 13. My husband and I have been trying for years to have more children. (I used clomid to achieve 2nd pregnancy.) Would it be dangerous for me to have another child since I have this condition? I have been told different things by different doctors. At this time my husband and I really want to have another child. I just had an MRI last week, which showed no change.
Thanks in advance.
Bshekinah
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Nov 10, 2001 12:00AM
The concern I would have about childbearing in the setting of a cavernous angioma would be two things: risk of bleed and seizures. No one is actually quite sure what the risk of bleeding is with pregnancy, but some people do believe that the risk of seizure does indeed go up. There have been a handful of cases in the literature of women with cavernous angiomas who have had new onset seizures (never had them before) during pregnancy. Seizures in general put the baby at risk for oxygen deprivation and placental disruption and the anti-seizure meds all have some kind of risk for birth defects.
This is something you will have to think about carefully with your husband and doctors (both OB and neuro) as no one can accurately predict your personal risk for developing either complication. I wish you and your family the best of luck.
This is something you will have to think about carefully with your husband and doctors (both OB and neuro) as no one can accurately predict your personal risk for developing either complication. I wish you and your family the best of luck.
I have heard the risk of bleeds mentioned before; no one has ever suggested the possibility of seizure during pregnancy. I have had 2 uneventful term pregnancies; during my second pregnancy, though, I did have a dull headache for about 4 weeks which never really responded to tylenol. At the end of it I had some left side numbness for about 30 minutes. At that time I was not aware of my cavernous angioma, and my OB said to wait it out and see if symptoms subsided. I really do want to have all the information I can. I have had one neurologist say, "Don't have more children. Find your fulfillment elsewhere. I have 4 children and I wish I only had two." (Yes, he really said this.) I have also had an OB tell me that if I did get pregnant, I should probably have a c-section.
All that said, I have never used any means of birth control, so obviously my ability to conceive is, well, somewhat impaired. We do very much want another child; however, I wouldn't pursue fertility treatment (clomid again) if I knew that I could be putting my life at risk with another pregnancy.
I am prone to migraines during PMS, but they only get really bad once or twice a year (with aura). I have never had seizures before. My family practice dr., who I really respect, is talking with a high-risk pregnancy OB to see what my options are. I am not at this time seeing a neurologist. I am wondering now if I should see one before I attempt pregnancy.
Thanks again for your advice!
Bshekinah