title: Interferon-beta exposure during first trimester is safe in women with multiple sclerosis-A prospective cohort study from the German Multiple Sclerosis and Pregnancy Registry.
abstract: Available data suggest that pregnancy exposure to interferon-beta might result in lower mean birth weight and preterm birth.
  
  
  
  To determine the effect of interferon-beta exposure during pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes in multiple sclerosis patients.
  
  
  
  We compared the pregnancy outcomes of women exposed to interferon-beta with pregnancies unexposed to disease-modifying therapies. Women were enrolled into the German Multiple Sclerosis and Pregnancy Registry. A standardized questionnaire was administered during pregnancy and postpartum. Detailed information on course of multiple sclerosis and pregnancy, concomitant medications, delivery, and outcome of pregnancy was obtained.
  
  
  
  We collected data on 251 pregnancies exposed to interferon-beta and 194 unexposed to disease-modifying therapies. In all, 246 (98.01%) women discontinued interferon-beta treatment during first trimester. No differences regarding mean birth weight (exposed: 3272.28 ± 563.61 g; unexposed: 3267.46 ± 609.81 g), mean birth length (exposed: 50.73 ± 3.30 cm; unexposed: 50.88 ± 3.45 cm), preterm birth (p = 0.187), spontaneous abortion (p = 0.304), and congenital anomalies (p = 0.197) were observed between the two groups.
  
  
  
  Interferon-beta exposure during early pregnancy does not influence the mean birth weight, risk of preterm birth, or other adverse pregnancy outcomes. Our study provides further reassurance that interferon-beta treatment can be safely continued up until women become pregnant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany/Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapy, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.affiliation: Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langer-Gould
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University, Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rockhoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University, Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Aiden
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haghikia
authors.affiliation: Centre of Paediatrics and Youth Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Queisser-Wahrendorf
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University, Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University, Bochum, Bochum, Germany k.hellwig@klinikum-bochum.de.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hellwig
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000187:drug effects*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016899:Interferon-beta
keywords: Multiple sclerosis; disease-modifying therapies; interferon-beta; pregnancy; pregnancy outcomes; safety