Obstetric aspects of Gaucher disease.

The medical aspects of 21 pregnancies in 11 women with type I, non-neuronopathic Gaucher disease have been reviewed. One pregnancy ended in a spontaneous abortion at 12 weeks and two pregnancies in one patient resulted in two children with the Hurler syndrome which is unrelated to Gaucher disease. The other 18 pregnancies resulted in the birth of normal infants at full-term, four by caesarean section and the remainder by normal vaginal delivery. Only one patient experienced a significant exacerbation of her Gaucher disease during pregnancy. Fifteen of the pregnancies were associated with mild haematological complications but active intervention was necessary in only two instances. It can be concluded that there are few contraindications to pregnancy in women with Gaucher disease.