Review
Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs and reproduction
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* Corresponding author: Monika Østensen monika.oestensen@insel.ch
1 Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology/Allergology, University Hospital of Bern, Switzerland
2 Lupus Research Unit, The Rayne Institute, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK
3 Joan and Sanford Weill College of Medicine of Cornell University, Barbara Volcker Center for Women and Rheumatic Disease, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, USA
4 Division of Rheumatic Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, USA
5 Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Niguarda Hospital, Milano, Italy
6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel, and Tel Aviv University, Israel
7 Division of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padova, Italy
8 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, UK
9 Cattedra di Medicina Interna, University of Milano, Italy
10 Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, L Mangiagalli, University of Milano, Italy
11 Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands
12 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
13 Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
14 Centre for Immune Regulation, Division of Immunity and Infection, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
15 Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Cruces, University of The Basque Country, Bizkaia, Spain
16 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pavia, Italy
17 University of Texas, Health Science Center, Houston, USA
18 Pediatrics, Fondazione Policlinico Mangiagalli, Milano, Italy
19 Foundation for the Community Control of Hereditary Diseases, Budapest, Hungary
20 Service de Médecine Interne, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
21 Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
22 Discipline of Rheumatology, Faculdades de Ciencias Medicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
23 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
24 Lupus Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Baltimore, USA
25 Department of Medicine and Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
26 Obstetric and Gynecology Department, University and Hospital of Brescia, Italy
27 Cattedra di Reumatologia, Università 'La Sapienza', Roma, Italy
28 Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University and Hospital of Brescia, Italy
29 Deceased in 2005
Arthritis Research & Therapy 2006, 8:209 doi:10.1186/ar1957
Published: 11 May 2006Abstract
Rheumatic diseases in women of childbearing years may necessitate drug treatment during a pregnancy, to control maternal disease activity and to ensure a successful pregnancy outcome. This survey is based on a consensus workshop of international experts discussing effects of anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and biological drugs during pregnancy and lactation. In addition, effects of these drugs on male and female fertility and possible long-term effects on infants exposed to drugs antenatally are discussed where data were available. Recommendations for drug treatment during pregnancy and lactation are given.