Copyright
©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 21, 2008; 14(19): 3085-3087
Published online May 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.3085
Published online May 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.3085
Is infliximab safe to use while breastfeeding?
Joel Z Stengel, Hays L Arnold, Brooke Army Medical Center, 3851 Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, United States
Author contributions: Stengel JZ and Arnold HL contributed equally to this work.
Correspondence to: Joel Z Stengel, MD, Gastroenterology Service, Brooke Army Medical Center, 3851 Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, United States. joel.stengel@us.army.mil
Telephone: +1-210-916-5244
Fax: +1-210-916-3195
Received: February 8, 2008
Revised: April 20, 2008
Published online: May 21, 2008
Revised: April 20, 2008
Published online: May 21, 2008
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often affects women around the age of conception and pregnancy. Most drugs used to treat IBD are safe in pregnancy, but physicians must consider the clinical implications of certain treatment regimens in young, fertile females. We report an informative case of a pregnant patient with IBD who underwent treatment with infliximab during her pregnancy and while nursing her infant. Serum and breast milk infliximab levels were monitored throughout this time period. This case report suggests that targeted monoclonal antibodies and other biologic agents can be used with caution in pregnant and breastfeeding patients.
Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease; Ulcerative colitis; Crohn’s disease; Pregnancy; Breast-feeding; Monoclonal antibodies