title: Is infliximab safe to use while breastfeeding?
abstract: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often affects women around the age of conception and pregnancy. Most drugs used to treat IBD are safe in pregnancy, but physicians must consider the clinical implications of certain treatment regimens in young, fertile females. We report an informative case of a pregnant patient with IBD who underwent treatment with infliximab during her pregnancy and while nursing her infant. Serum and breast milk infliximab levels were monitored throughout this time period. This case report suggests that targeted monoclonal antibodies and other biologic agents can be used with caution in pregnant and breastfeeding patients.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Service, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, USA. joel.stengel@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Joel-Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Stengel
authors.forename: Hays-L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Arnold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D050498:Live Birth; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D000069285:Infliximab