title: Rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy: evolution of disease activity and pathophysiological considerations for drug use.
abstract: It has long been known that pregnancy and childbirth have a profound effect on the disease activity of rheumatic diseases. For clinicians, the management of patients with RA wishing to become pregnant involves the challenge of keeping disease activity under control and adequately adapting drug therapy during pregnancy and post-partum. This article aims to summarize the current evidence on the evolution of RA disease activity during and after pregnancy and the use of anti-rheumatic drugs around this period. Of recent interest is the potential use of anti-TNF compounds in the preconception period and during pregnancy. Accumulating experience with anti-TNF therapy in other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn's disease, provides useful insights for the use of TNF blockade in pregnant women with RA, or RA patients wishing to become pregnant.
authors: Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Johanna M W
authors: JM
authors: Hazes
authors: Pierre G
authors: PG
authors: Coulie
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Geenen
authors: Séverine
authors: S
authors: Vermeire
authors: Franck
authors: F
authors: Carbonnel
authors: Edouard
authors: E
authors: Louis
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Masson
authors: Filip
authors: F
authors: De Keyser
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha