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Interferon‐α therapy during pregnancy in chronic myelogenous leukaemia and hairy cell leukaemia
Author(s) -
Baer Maria R.,
Ozer Howard,
Foon Kenneth A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1992.tb08202.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , interferon , chronic myelogenous leukemia , immunology , hairy cell , leukemia , hairy cell leukemia , biology , genetics
Summary. Interferon‐α is an effective agent in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukaemia and hairy cell leukaemia. Because interferon‐α does not inhibit DNA synthesis, we have used it to treat these diseases during pregnancy. We report here two patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia and two patients with hairy cell leukaemia managed with interferon‐α during pregnancy. Tnterferon‐α was well tolerated, and the pregnancies proceeded without complications. All four infants were apparently normal at birth, and all four have enjoyed normal growth and development. Interferon‐α may represent relatively safe therapy during pregnancy, because of its lack of inhibition of DNA synthesis. Nevertheless, recommendations regarding the use of interferon‐α to treat chronic leukaemias during pregnancy must await further experience with this agent in this setting.