Treatment of acromegaly with pegvisomant during pregnancy: maternal and fetal effects.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to describe the first case of the successful use of pegvisomant during pregnancy in a woman with acromegaly.


METHODS
We present the case of a 26-yr-old female with acromegaly who had failed surgical and subsequent medical therapy but whose disease was well controlled on pegvisomant. She then conceived and was continued on pegvisomant throughout pregnancy. We then collected both maternal and cord blood samples at parturition, and later analyzed her breast milk.


RESULTS
Maternal IGF-I was well controlled during gestation. Fetal GH and IGF-I were within the normal range. Maternal pegvisomant levels were consistent with a 25-mg daily dosage. Fetal pegvisomant levels were minimal and near the range detected in untreated acromegalic patients, likely representing minimal cross-reactivity from endogenous GH or spurious contamination by maternal blood. GH variant levels in the maternal blood and the cord blood were both within the normal ranges. Pegvisomant levels in breast milk were below the lower limit of quantification of the assay and similar to those observed when analyzing breast milk samples from normal mothers in the same assay. Fetal growth parameters were normal; the baby was healthy and showed no adverse signs.


CONCLUSIONS
Pegvisomant therapy during gestation was safe and effective in our patient. Transplacental passage of pegvisomant is either absent or minimal, with a concentration highly unlikely to convey any significant pharmacodynamic effects on the fetal GH and IGF-I system. In addition, there is no evidence of substantial secretion of pegvisomant into breast milk.
Brian
Susan Riddle
SR
Department of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA. Susan.Brian@yale.edu
Bidlingmaier
Martin
M
Wajnrajch
Michael P
MP
Weinzimer
Stuart A
SA
Inzucchi
Silvio E
SE
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; C406545:pegvisomant