Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum and Pregancy

Reports of complications of pseudoxanthoma elasticum occurring during pregnancy have dissuaded some women with the disorder from attempting to conceive for fear of exacerbating the disease. The actual risks of serious complications during pregnancy, however, may be overstated. We report a 40-year-old woman with pseudoxanthoma elasticum who delivered a healthy male infant after an uneventful pregnancy. At the time of delivery, the placenta was noted to be heavily calcified. The effects of pregnancy on pseudoxanthoma elasticum and the effects of maternal pseudoxanthoma elasticum on a developing fetus are reviewed, with a review of the relevant medical literature.