title: Long-term effects of exposure to disease-modifying drugs in the offspring of mothers with multiple sclerosis: a retrospective chart review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) mainly affects women of fertile age. To date, the only recommendation for women with MS intending to become pregnant is to stop all treatment. This recommendation reflects the concerns about the effects of disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) on the offspring. The objective of the present study was to assess the potential long-term effects of maternal exposure to DMDs on the offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study revising medical data on the offspring of women with MS. These women now have children aged at least 1 year and include a group of patients that were not exposed to any DMDs for at least 3 months prior to pregnancy and during the whole gestation (control group). Another group of patients had at least 2 weeks of exposure to DMDs, mainly to interferon beta or glatiramer acetate
  
  
  RESULTS
  The women with MS participating in this study have children currently aged, on average, 6.6 years (range 1-39 years). There was no pattern of drug-related adverse events or complications in the children whose mothers were exposed to DMDs. No specific long-term adverse events were observed in the offspring of women with MS who were exposed to drugs during pregnancy. The profile of relevant diagnoses in their children was similar to that of children whose mothers had not been exposed to DMDs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present retrospective study did not show a specific profile of long-term deleterious drug effects on children born from mothers who were exposed to drugs for MS treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical School, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos (UNIMES), Rua da Constituicao 374, CEP 11015-470, Santos, SP, Brazil, yara@bsnet.com.br.
authors.forename: Yara D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Fragoso
authors.forename: Tarso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adoni
authors.forename: Soniza V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Alves-Leon
authors.forename: Nério D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Azambuja
authors.forename: Amilton A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Barreira
authors.forename: Joseph B B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Denise S D
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.forename: Margarete J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Rinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Claudino
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Comini-Frota
authors.forename: Renan B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Domingues
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finkelzstejn
authors.forename: Paulo D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Gama
authors.forename: Maria C B
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Giacomo
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Marcus V M
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Goncalves
authors.forename: Anderson K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Grzesiuk
authors.forename: Damacio R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kaimen-Maciel
authors.forename: Maria F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.forename: Nivea M O
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Rogério R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muniz
authors.forename: Regina M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Papais-Alvarenga
authors.forename: Monica K F
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Parolin
authors.forename: Sonia B F
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Heloisa H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ruocco
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siquineli
authors.forename: Elza D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Tosta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D016899:Interferon-beta