Fertility and outcomes of pregnancy after chemotherapy in a sample of childbearing aged women.
The aim of the study was to review the characteristics and outcomes of pregnancies occurring in women of childbearing age after chemotherapy for malignant disease. Between November 1998 and October 1999, a total of 16 patients who were treated for ovary (three), mole (one), vaginal (one), breast (four), Hodgkin's disease (four), lung (one), melanoma (one) and osteosarcoma (one) carcinoma were identified and retrospectively questioned about their fertility status. All the 16 women included in this study received at least one alkylating agent. Five patients (31%) experienced anomalies of hormonal cycle during and after the treatment. All of them recovered normal cycle without consequence of fertility. Caesarean section was performed in seven of 20 (35%) pregnancies with known outcomes. No obstetrical events were reported. The 16 women had 21 pregnancies resulting in 18 normal infants, one newborn with a minor abnormality (tallus foot), one spontaneous abortion and one lost of follow-up to 6 months of pregnancy. The present survey suggests that cytotoxic drug exposure had no deleterious effects on subsequent pregnancies. A prospective and systemic survey would be the only means able to clarify the actual cancer therapy on reproductive outcome and to investigate the long-term effects in the progeny.
Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Centre Midi-Pyrénées de Pharmacovigilance, de Pharmacoépidémiologie et d'Information sur le Médicament, Faculté de Médecine, 37, Allées Jules Guesde, 31073 Toulouse Cx, France. durrieu@cict.fr
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Durrieu
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Rigal
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Bugat
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Lapeyre-Mestre
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating