Sandra Thiel1, Annette Langer-Gould2, Milena Rockhoff3, Aiden Haghikia3, Annette Queisser-Wahrendorf4, Ralf Gold3, Kerstin Hellwig5. 1. Department of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany/Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapy, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany. 2. Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA. 3. Department of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University, Bochum, Bochum, Germany. 4. Centre of Paediatrics and Youth Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany. 5. Department of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University, Bochum, Bochum, Germany k.hellwig@klinikum-bochum.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Available data suggest that pregnancy exposure to interferon-beta might result in lower mean birth weight and preterm birth. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of interferon-beta exposure during pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes in multiple sclerosis patients. METHODS: We compared the pregnancy outcomes of women exposed to interferon-beta with pregnancies unexposed to disease-modifying therapies. Women were enrolled into the German Multiple Sclerosis and Pregnancy Registry. A standardized questionnaire was administered during pregnancy and postpartum. Detailed information on course of multiple sclerosis and pregnancy, concomitant medications, delivery, and outcome of pregnancy was obtained. RESULTS: We collected data on 251 pregnancies exposed to interferon-beta and 194 unexposed to disease-modifying therapies. In all, 246 (98.01%) women discontinued interferon-beta treatment during first trimester. No differences regarding mean birth weight (exposed: 3272.28 ± 563.61 g; unexposed: 3267.46 ± 609.81 g), mean birth length (exposed: 50.73 ± 3.30 cm; unexposed: 50.88 ± 3.45 cm), preterm birth (p = 0.187), spontaneous abortion (p = 0.304), and congenital anomalies (p = 0.197) were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Interferon-beta exposure during early pregnancy does not influence the mean birth weight, risk of preterm birth, or other adverse pregnancy outcomes. Our study provides further reassurance that interferon-beta treatment can be safely continued up until women become pregnant.
BACKGROUND: Available data suggest that pregnancy exposure to interferon-beta might result in lower mean birth weight and preterm birth. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of interferon-beta exposure during pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes in multiple sclerosispatients. METHODS: We compared the pregnancy outcomes of women exposed to interferon-beta with pregnancies unexposed to disease-modifying therapies. Women were enrolled into the German Multiple Sclerosis and Pregnancy Registry. A standardized questionnaire was administered during pregnancy and postpartum. Detailed information on course of multiple sclerosis and pregnancy, concomitant medications, delivery, and outcome of pregnancy was obtained. RESULTS: We collected data on 251 pregnancies exposed to interferon-beta and 194 unexposed to disease-modifying therapies. In all, 246 (98.01%) women discontinued interferon-beta treatment during first trimester. No differences regarding mean birth weight (exposed: 3272.28 ± 563.61 g; unexposed: 3267.46 ± 609.81 g), mean birth length (exposed: 50.73 ± 3.30 cm; unexposed: 50.88 ± 3.45 cm), preterm birth (p = 0.187), spontaneous abortion (p = 0.304), and congenital anomalies (p = 0.197) were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS:Interferon-beta exposure during early pregnancy does not influence the mean birth weight, risk of preterm birth, or other adverse pregnancy outcomes. Our study provides further reassurance that interferon-beta treatment can be safely continued up until women become pregnant.
Authors: Ingrid E H Kremer; Silvia M A A Evers; Peter J Jongen; Trudy van der Weijden; Ilona van de Kolk; Mickaël Hiligsmann Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-11-03 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Dessa Sadovnick; Maria Criscuoli; Irene Yee; Robert Carruthers; Alice Schabas; Penelope Smyth Journal: Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin Date: 2021-07-15