Is It 'Safe' to take Anti-TNF Medications during Pregnancy?

Anti-tumor necrosis factor medications (anti-TNFs) were found to be effective in controlling chronic inflammatory diseases. Women can take anti-TNFs, as they appear to be safe during pregnancy.

In an Arthritis & Rheumatology analysis of 528 pregnancies of women exposed to certolizumab pegol (CZP), an anti-TNF approved for treatment of rheumatic diseases and/or Crohn's Disease, 85 percent of pregnancies resulted in live births, and the rate of major congenital malformations (2%) was similar to those reported for the general population in the United States and Europe.

These findings are reassuring for women of childbearing age affected by chronic inflammatory diseases considering treatment with CZP who wish to become or are pregnant.

‘Using Anti-tumor necrosis factor medications (anti-TNFs) during pregnancy can be safe for women with Crohn's Disease and rheumatoid arthritis.’

"In this large study of pregnancies, it appears that taking CZP during pregnancy did not increase the chances for pregnancy loss, preterm birth, or birth defects," said lead author Dr. Megan Clowse, of Duke University Medical Center.

"Continuing anti-TNFs in pregnancy has been recommended for many years for women with Crohn's Disease, and these data suggest that it is also safe for women with other inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis."

Source: Eurekalert

New Treatment Route for Inflammatory Rheumatism is Now Open

The absence of anti-inflammatory protein A20 leads to a significant increase in a signalling molecule STAT1, which promotes the development of enthesitis.

AIDS Health Center Units To Offer Penicillin Shots For Rheumatic Heart Disease

Linking rheumatic heart disease services into existing HIV/AIDS clinics and primary health care centers can reduce the death rate of RHD.

Scorpion Venom Reduces Severity of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Scorpion venom has compounds that block potassium channels and this property is used to reduce inflammation and pain in special cells that aggravate rheumatoid arthritis.

Biologics Do Not Increase The Risk of Second Malignancy

The concern for second malignancy or cancer recurrences in patients with history of cancer diagnosis has led to some reluctance in treating arthritis patients.