title: Oseltamivir for influenza in pregnancy.
abstract: Pregnancy predisposes women to disproportionate morbidity and mortality from influenza infections. This is true for both seasonal epidemics as well as occasional pandemics. Inactivated yearly influenza vaccines are the best available method of disease prevention and are recommended for all pregnant women in any trimester of pregnancy and postpartum. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu(®)) is currently the first-line recommended and most commonly used pharmaceutical agent for influenza prophylaxis and treatment. Oseltamivir has been demonstrated to prevent disease among exposed individuals, as well as to shorten the duration of illness and lessen the likelihood of complications among those infected. The physiologic adaptations of pregnancy may alter the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of this important drug. Updated evidence regarding these potential alterations, current knowledge gaps, and future investigative directions is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 300 Halket St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Electronic address: rbeigi@mail.magee.edu.
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Beigi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Raman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Venkataramanan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 300 Halket St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
authors.forename: Steve N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Caritis
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053139:Oseltamivir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D053139:Oseltamivir
keywords: Influenza; Oseltamivir; Pharmacology; Pregnancy