Biologic use safe in pregnant women with inflammatory bowel disease, finds study

Written By : Medha Baranwal |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2020-10-16T19:24:59+05:30 | Updated On 17 Oct 2020 12:58 PM IST

Denmark: The use of biologics appears to be safe in pregnant women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), suggests a recent study in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. The adverse pregnancy outcomes (such as early pregnancy loss, stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight, and congenital malformations) were comparable in women using biologics versus the general population.

Biologics (anti-TNF agents, anti-integrins, and anti cytokines) are routinely used in pregnant women with IBD but there is a lack of large-scale data reporting adverse pregnancy outcomes in those using biologics. Ole Haagen Nielsen, Herlev Hospital, Univ. of Copenhagen, Denmark, and colleagues sought to estimate the prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in IBD women on biologic therapies.

The researchers searched the online databases from inception to June 2020 for studies that estimated the prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in IBD in women using biologics. Prevalence and relative risk (RR) were pooled using a random-effects model.

The meta-analysis included forty-eight studies comprising of 6963 patients.

Key findings of the study include:

Biologic therapy in IBD pregnancies was associated with a pooled prevalence of 8% for early pregnancy loss, 9% preterm birth, 0% stillbirth, 8% low birth weight, and 1% congenital malformations.
These rates are comparable to those published in the general population.
In subgroup analyses of a small number of studies, the prevalence of early pregnancy loss and preterm birth were higher in vedolizumab versus anti-TNF users.
Meta-regression did not reveal an association of disease activity or concomitant thiopurine on adverse outcomes.
Continued TNF inhibitor use during the third trimester was not associated with risk of preterm birth (RR 1.41), low birth weight (RR 1.32), or congenital malformations (RR 1.28).

"Adverse pregnancy outcomes among pregnant IBD women with biologic use are comparable with that of the general population," concluded the authors.

"Biologics for Inflammatory Bowel Disease and their Safety in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis," is published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

DOI: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1542356520312817

Source : Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Medha Baranwal

MSc. Biotechnology

Medha Baranwal joined Medical Dialogues as an Editor in 2018 for Speciality Medical Dialogues. She covers several medical specialties including Cardiac Sciences, Dentistry, Diabetes and Endo, Diagnostics, ENT, Gastroenterology, Neurosciences, and Radiology. She has completed her Bachelors in Biomedical Sciences from DU and then pursued Masters in Biotechnology from Amity University. She has a working experience of 5 years in the field of medical research writing, scientific writing, content writing, and content management. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751