Premium
Safety of anti‐rheumatic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis in pregnancy and lactation
Author(s) -
Ngian GeneSiew,
Briggs Andrew M.,
Ackerman Ila.,
Van Doornum Sharon
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of rheumatic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1756-185X
pISSN - 1756-1841
DOI - 10.1111/1756-185x.12860
Subject(s) - medicine , rheumatoid arthritis , pregnancy , lactation , intensive care medicine , disease , clinical trial , genetics , biology
Women with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) are often of childbearing age and therefore questions regarding reproductive health and the use of medications, including disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs ( DMARD s) may arise during the clinical consultation. Each patient requires individual assessment in order to effectively manage the disease while minimizing any treatment‐associated risks to the fetus. Although good‐quality controlled trials are lacking, there is an increasing volume of evidence surrounding the use of immunosuppressive therapies in pregnancy and lactation. This review summarizes the currently available information which can be of benefit to clinicians guiding patients and their families through the risks and benefits of continuing RA therapy during pregnancy and lactation. Further studies and ongoing surveillance of drug safety in pregnancy are required to resolve the uncertainties that remain regarding synthetic and biologic DMARD s.