Guest Open Access | Free Content | About | Sign in | New Users: Sign up | Mark List  

 

Current Drug Targets

Volume 11 Issue 2
ISSN: 1389-4501

 

   All Titles

  Anti-TNF Antibody Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease During Pregnancy: A Clinical Review
  pp.234-241 (8) Authors: Marwa El Mourabet, Sandra El-Hachem, Janet R. Harrison, David G. Binion
 
 
      Abstract

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; Crohn ’ s disease, ulcerative colitis) is highest during the peak reproductive years, hence the increased concern with the safety of IBD drugs during pregnancy. Over the past 11 years, anti-TNF-α antibody therapy has emerged as a treatment approach for refractory IBD patients who have failed to achieve or maintain remission with corticosteroids and immunomodulator agents. The TNF-α inhibitors (anti-TNFs; infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol) have proven successful in inducing and maintaining remission of moderateto- severe IBD, but recommendations for the use of these compounds during pregnancy have lacked consensus. Balanced against the potential risk of these drugs on the fetus is the well-established fact that high disease activity has been found to poorly affect pregnancy outcomes in IBD, and the potential use of anti-TNF agents may control disease flare and severity during pregnancy. Concerns regarding the effect of anti-TNFs on the pregnancy and fetus have been assuaged by registry data which has demonstrated an overall positive safety record. Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Crohn's and Colitis Organization categorize anti-TNF agents as safe during pregnancy. New knowledge regarding the physiologic timing of placental transfer of therapeutic antibody subclasses and pegylated antibody fragments from the mother into the fetus has also helped to allay concerns. This review will examine the present state of knowledge regarding the use of anti-TNFs in pregnant women with IBD.

 
  Keywords: Pregnancy, infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease
  Affiliation: UPMC Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Mezzanine Level C Wing, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
 
  Key: New Content Free Content Open Access Subscribed Content

 
Bentham Science Publishers
www.bentham.org

  Copyright © 1994 - 2010   Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.