Reumatizam, Vol. 63 No. 1, 2016.
Professional paper
PREGNANT PATIENT WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS TREATED WITH METHOTREXATE AND INFLIXIMAB
Marija Bakula
Mislav Cerovec
Krešimir Rukavina
Nada Čikeš
Branimir Anić
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors have become an established therapeutic regimen for patients
with rheumatoid arthritis. Regarding their harmful potential they are classifi ed as category B medications. Animal
reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled
studies in pregnant women. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are oft en used in combination with
biological therapy and treatment with methotrexate has shown good results. Th is antimetabolite is classifi ed as a
category X drug and its teratogenic eff ect is well known. Th e incidence of infl ammatory rheumatic diseases is signifi -
cantly higher in women. Th ere are many reports on pregnant patients treated with biological therapy, oft en in combination
with DMARDs. Th e eff ects of such a therapy on reproductive health is a theme of debate, with controversial
views on the matter. We present a patient with rheumatoid arthritis whose pregnancy was discovered at 31 weeks of
gestation. During that period she had been treated with methotrexate and infl iximab, with no adverse eff ects.
Keywords
Arthritis, rheumatoid – drug therapy; Methotrexate – therapeutic use, adverse eff ects; Antirheumatic agents – therapeutic use, adverse eff ects; Infl iximab – therapeutic use, adverse eff ects; Biological products – therapeutic use, pharmacokinetics, adverse eff ects; Tumor necrosis factor-alpha – antagonists and inhibitors; Pregnancy complications; Pregnancy outcome
Hrčak ID:
182807
URI
Publication date:
10.5.2016.
Visits: 3.534 *