Cancer chemotherapy during pregnancy. Consortium of cancer in pregnancy evidence.
OBJECTIVE
I have an 8-weeks' pregnant patient who was diagnosed with stage III Hodgkin's disease last week. The oncologist suggests delaying chemotherapy until the second trimester. What are the effects of chemotherapy on a fetus after the first trimester? Where can I find reliable information on the subject?


CONCLUSIONS
Available data suggest that exposure to chemotherapy during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with increased risk of major malformations. Exposure during the second and third trimesters does not result in major malformations, but could have nonteratogenic effects, such as low birth weight. The brain develops throughout pregnancy, and it could be affected later in pregnancy.
Lishner
M
M
Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
Koren
G
G
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012307:Risk Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents