Impact of pregnancy on respiratory capacity in women with muscular dystrophy and kyphoscoliosis. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Restriction of the chest wall in pregnancy prevents adaptive physiologic hyperventilation. This in turn might gradually promote respiratory insufficiency. CASE: Two consecutive pregnancies occurred in a woman with severe kyphoscoliosis due to juvenile muscular dystrophy. The patient died postpartum. CONCLUSION: Pregnancies with restrictive lung diseases, including severe scoliosis and kyphoscoliosis, should be considered high risk and thus should be monitored and managed carefully.