title: Leukaemia and pregnancy.
abstract: In summary, the management of women diagnosed with leukaemia in pregnancy needs an interdisciplinary approach, including a careful oncological work-up as well as close monitoring of the pregnancy until delivery and beyond. Patients with acute leukaemias normally must receive anti-leukaemic treatment at full dosage prior to delivery, except for selected women diagnosed very close to term. Treatment should be avoided in the first trimester. The prognosis of pregnant women with acute leukaemia corresponds to that of an age-matched and diagnosis-matched non-pregnant cohort of patients, provided appropriate treatment is given. If given as of the second trimester, the typical chemotherapy regimes used for acute leukaemias imply acceptable acute toxicities to the fetus, with a somewhat increased risk of premature birth or developmental retardation, but no clear evidence of late sequelae in children and adolescents who were exposed to cytostatic agents whilst in utero. In chronic leukaemias and MDS, treatment may often be delayed until after delivery. In CML targeted therapy with imatinib mesylate is safe as of the second trimester, and possibly even before. Obstetric care and monitoring of women with leukaemia are essential throughout the pregnancy to ensure the best possible outcome for mother and child.
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Inselspital and University, Bern, Switzerland.
authors: M F
authors: MF
authors: Fey
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Surbek
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic