title: How safe are anti-rheumatic drugs during pregnancy?
abstract: Rheumatic diseases may be active during pregnancy necessitating drug treatment in order to control maternal disease activity and ensure a successful pregnancy outcome. The present literature survey of the last 2 years does not profoundly change the recommendations given in recent reviews: the teratogenic drugs cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, and biologics without or with few pregnancy data must be withdrawn before a planned pregnancy. Leflunomide has up to date not shown to be a human teratogen. Drugs that can be used throughout pregnancy include corticosteroids, sulfasalazine, antimalarials, cyclosporine, tacrolimus and azathioprine. Among biological drugs extended pregnancy experience exists only for TNF-inhibitors. The effect of immunosuppressive drugs and biologics on male reproductive function is only partly known.
authors.affiliation: National Center of Pregnancy and Rheumatic Disease, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Trondheim, Norway. monika.ostensen@gmail.com
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Østensen
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Förger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000075202:Contraindications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents