title: Neonatal lupus and IUGR following alpha-interferon therapy during pregnancy.
abstract: Interferon alfa-2a is a cytokine produced by recombinant DNA techniques and has antiproliferative, antiviral and immunomodulating effects. A number of case reports in the past have suggested relative safety of alpha-interferons during pregnancy with little or no effect on the fetus. A 15-year-old adolescent became pregnant while receiving alpha-interferon for essential thrombocythemia. She delivered a small-for-gestational age baby girl at 33 weeks gestation. The infant displayed a facial rash characteristic of neonatal lupus and transient thrombocytopenia; maternal and neonatal serologies were typical for drug-induced lupus. These findings suggest probable association between maternal use of alpha interferon and adverse effects in the fetus.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.forename: Kalyani
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vats
authors.forename: Rakesh K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Goyal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha