Neurofibromatosis and pregnancy. Considerations on a clinical case and review of the literature

: In this paper, starting from a case of neurofibromatosis adversely affecting pregnancy, the authors consider several interactions between pregnancy and Von Recklinhausen's diseases. The review of the literature emphasizes either an exacerbation of the maternal disease because of pregnancy, or the onset appearance of serious complications such as sarcomatous degeneration of neurofibromas, activation of a silent pheochromocytoma, rupture of an aneurysm. Moreover, the effects of neurofibromatosis on the pregnancy cause an elevated risk of IUGR, pregnancy hypertension, abortion and stillbirth and oligohydramnios. The pregnancy of a patient affected with neurofibromatosis needs careful evaluation of the maternal clinical conditions and of the foetus-placenta unity.