OBJECTIVE: To investigate the attitude of patients towards immunosuppressive and biological drugs in relation to reproduction and the outcome of pregnancies exposed to these drugs. METHODS: We performed 2 postal surveys in regard to immunosuppressive drugs and reproduction, one in patients with rheumatic disease, the second in Swiss rheumatologists. RESULTS: Among the 237 female patients and the 189 male patients contacted for the survey, 72% of women and 40% of men returned the questionnaire. Ninety-four women and 47 men had received one or several immunosuppressive or biological agents during the years 2000-2005. Correct advice in regard to drugs and necessary birth control had been given to 84% of women. Advice to men was more inconsistent. One-third of women and 50% of men treated with potentially teratogenic drugs methotrexate (MTX) or leflunomide had not practiced birth control. The surveys of rheumatologists and patients disclosed 66 pregnancies under therapy with immunosuppressive and biological drugs with successful outcomes in 73%. However, 20% of pregnancies in women occurred under treatment with MTX and leflunomide. CONCLUSION: Issues regarding drugs and reproduction are not always sufficiently discussed with female and male patients. The increasing use of combination therapies containing MTX necessitates ensuring that advice regarding birth control is followed in order to avoid pregnancies exposed to potentially fetotoxic drugs.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the attitude of patients towards immunosuppressive and biological drugs in relation to reproduction and the outcome of pregnancies exposed to these drugs. METHODS: We performed 2 postal surveys in regard to immunosuppressive drugs and reproduction, one in patients with rheumatic disease, the second in Swiss rheumatologists. RESULTS: Among the 237 female patients and the 189 male patients contacted for the survey, 72% of women and 40% of men returned the questionnaire. Ninety-four women and 47 men had received one or several immunosuppressive or biological agents during the years 2000-2005. Correct advice in regard to drugs and necessary birth control had been given to 84% of women. Advice to men was more inconsistent. One-third of women and 50% of men treated with potentially teratogenic drugs methotrexate (MTX) or leflunomide had not practiced birth control. The surveys of rheumatologists and patients disclosed 66 pregnancies under therapy with immunosuppressive and biological drugs with successful outcomes in 73%. However, 20% of pregnancies in women occurred under treatment with MTX and leflunomide. CONCLUSION: Issues regarding drugs and reproduction are not always sufficiently discussed with female and male patients. The increasing use of combination therapies containing MTX necessitates ensuring that advice regarding birth control is followed in order to avoid pregnancies exposed to potentially fetotoxic drugs.
Authors: David L Leverenz; Amanda M Eudy; Malithi Jayasundara; Tayseer Haroun; Gary McDaniel; W Benjamin Nowell; Jeffrey R Curtis; Rachelle Crow-Hercher; Whitney White; Seth Ginsberg; Megan E B Clowse Journal: Clin Rheumatol Date: 2019-01-16 Impact factor: 2.980
Authors: Rhiannon Phillips; Denitza Williams; Daniel Bowen; Delyth Morris; Aimee Grant; Bethan Pell; Julia Sanders; Ann Taylor; Ernest Choy; Adrian Edwards Journal: Wellcome Open Res Date: 2018-06-20
Authors: Rhiannon Phillips; Bethan Pell; Aimee Grant; Daniel Bowen; Julia Sanders; Ann Taylor; Adrian Edwards; Ernest Choy; Denitza Williams Journal: BMC Rheumatol Date: 2018-07-27
Authors: K Visser; W Katchamart; E Loza; J A Martinez-Lopez; C Salliot; J Trudeau; C Bombardier; L Carmona; D van der Heijde; J W J Bijlsma; D T Boumpas; H Canhao; C J Edwards; V Hamuryudan; T K Kvien; B F Leeb; E M Martín-Mola; H Mielants; U Müller-Ladner; G Murphy; M Østergaard; I A Pereira; C Ramos-Remus; G Valentini; J Zochling; M Dougados Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2008-11-25 Impact factor: 19.103