SLE drug used in pregnancy does not up children’s infection, developmental risk

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – Women with systemic lupus erythematous can be advised that azathioprine does not appear to adversely affect their children in the long term if they become pregnant.

In a U.K. cross-sectional survey that included children who were 17 years or younger and born to mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a univariate analysis showed that exposure to azathioprine did not increase the risk of major infections (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval 0.8-3.2; P = .15) or developmental problems (OR, 1.22; 95% CI 0.44-3.42; P = .702).

Only the age of the child at assessment was associated with an increased risk of developmental problems, which were defined as attention–deficit/hyperactivity disorder, developmental delay, special needs, or special-education needs (OR, 1.15; P = .003).

The study provides "reassuring data to counsel women who are planning pregnancy in the future," Dr. Mary Gayed said the annual meeting of the British Society for Rheumatology.

"We know, from previous research, that certain immunosuppressant agents are used in pregnancy for lupus to prevent flare and to ensure optimum outcome for mother and child," Dr. Gayed said, but there have been few studies looking at long-term outcomes.

Dr. Gayed, a rheumatologist at Sandwell and West Birmingham (England) Hospitals, noted that the few, small studies that have been conducted have suggested a link between azathioprine use and an increased risk of infection, the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies, and developmental delay in the child.

To investigate the long-term consequences of SLE drugs on children’s outcomes further, Dr. Gayed and her associates performed a retrospective study involving eight English centers. The study involved a total of 287 children aged 17 years or younger who were born to 200 women who, before giving birth, had satisfied four or more SLE criteria as defined by the American College of Rheumatology.

The women had a mean age of 32 years when they gave birth to their first child and had a median disease duration of 7.1 years. The majority (65%) of women were white, with 15% of mothers being Asian, 10% Afro-Caribbean, and the remainder of "other" or unspecified ethnicity.

Maternal antibodies were detected in the children, including anti-Ro with or without lupus anticoagulant in 38%, any antiphospholipid antibody in 43%, lupus anticoagulant specifically in 33%, and anticardiolipin (IgG or IgM) in 23%.

Dr. Gayed reported that aspirin was the most commonly used drug during pregnancy and that 202 children had been exposed to it during their mothers’ pregnancy, followed by prednisolone exposure in 169 children, hydroxychloroquine in 152, azathioprine in 88, and heparin in 70. Another three children were exposed to cyclosporine, and one to mycophenolate.

In terms of obstetric outcomes, only 10% of mothers had experienced preeclampsia, of which 6% of cases were severe enough to warrant induction. Intrauterine growth restriction occurred in 11% of pregnancies (not known in a further 6%), with only 7% of cases being severe enough for the mother to be induced.

The mean gestation period was 36.3 weeks and most children were born by vaginal delivery (49%), with 39% born by cesarean section, and 11% with the aid of forceps. The mean birth weight of neonates was 2.7 kg.

The children were assessed at a mean age of 4.6 years. Infection requiring hospital assessment occurred in 40 (14%) of the 287 children studied. The age at which infections occurred reflected the age at which children were assessed in the study, with around half of all infections seen occurring in children less than 5 years of age.

Around 40% of infections were chest-related, Dr. Gayed reported: 17% were caused by pneumonia, 12% bronchiolitis, 5% upper respiratory tract infection, and 7% tonsillitis.

The age of children at assessment, the duration of pregnancy, and birth weight were also not associated with infection risk.

Dr. Gayed had no conflicts of interest. One coauthor disclosed receiving consultancy fees and honoraria from Genentech and Roche and an educational grant from Aspreva/Vifor.

[email protected]

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – Women with systemic lupus erythematous can be advised that azathioprine does not appear to adversely affect their children in the long term if they become pregnant.

In a U.K. cross-sectional survey that included children who were 17 years or younger and born to mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a univariate analysis showed that exposure to azathioprine did not increase the risk of major infections (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval 0.8-3.2; P = .15) or developmental problems (OR, 1.22; 95% CI 0.44-3.42; P = .702).

Only the age of the child at assessment was associated with an increased risk of developmental problems, which were defined as attention–deficit/hyperactivity disorder, developmental delay, special needs, or special-education needs (OR, 1.15; P = .003).

The study provides "reassuring data to counsel women who are planning pregnancy in the future," Dr. Mary Gayed said the annual meeting of the British Society for Rheumatology.

"We know, from previous research, that certain immunosuppressant agents are used in pregnancy for lupus to prevent flare and to ensure optimum outcome for mother and child," Dr. Gayed said, but there have been few studies looking at long-term outcomes.

Dr. Gayed, a rheumatologist at Sandwell and West Birmingham (England) Hospitals, noted that the few, small studies that have been conducted have suggested a link between azathioprine use and an increased risk of infection, the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies, and developmental delay in the child.

To investigate the long-term consequences of SLE drugs on children’s outcomes further, Dr. Gayed and her associates performed a retrospective study involving eight English centers. The study involved a total of 287 children aged 17 years or younger who were born to 200 women who, before giving birth, had satisfied four or more SLE criteria as defined by the American College of Rheumatology.

The women had a mean age of 32 years when they gave birth to their first child and had a median disease duration of 7.1 years. The majority (65%) of women were white, with 15% of mothers being Asian, 10% Afro-Caribbean, and the remainder of "other" or unspecified ethnicity.

Maternal antibodies were detected in the children, including anti-Ro with or without lupus anticoagulant in 38%, any antiphospholipid antibody in 43%, lupus anticoagulant specifically in 33%, and anticardiolipin (IgG or IgM) in 23%.

Dr. Gayed reported that aspirin was the most commonly used drug during pregnancy and that 202 children had been exposed to it during their mothers’ pregnancy, followed by prednisolone exposure in 169 children, hydroxychloroquine in 152, azathioprine in 88, and heparin in 70. Another three children were exposed to cyclosporine, and one to mycophenolate.

In terms of obstetric outcomes, only 10% of mothers had experienced preeclampsia, of which 6% of cases were severe enough to warrant induction. Intrauterine growth restriction occurred in 11% of pregnancies (not known in a further 6%), with only 7% of cases being severe enough for the mother to be induced.

The mean gestation period was 36.3 weeks and most children were born by vaginal delivery (49%), with 39% born by cesarean section, and 11% with the aid of forceps. The mean birth weight of neonates was 2.7 kg.

The children were assessed at a mean age of 4.6 years. Infection requiring hospital assessment occurred in 40 (14%) of the 287 children studied. The age at which infections occurred reflected the age at which children were assessed in the study, with around half of all infections seen occurring in children less than 5 years of age.

Around 40% of infections were chest-related, Dr. Gayed reported: 17% were caused by pneumonia, 12% bronchiolitis, 5% upper respiratory tract infection, and 7% tonsillitis.

The age of children at assessment, the duration of pregnancy, and birth weight were also not associated with infection risk.

Dr. Gayed had no conflicts of interest. One coauthor disclosed receiving consultancy fees and honoraria from Genentech and Roche and an educational grant from Aspreva/Vifor.

[email protected]

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – Women with systemic lupus erythematous can be advised that azathioprine does not appear to adversely affect their children in the long term if they become pregnant.

In a U.K. cross-sectional survey that included children who were 17 years or younger and born to mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a univariate analysis showed that exposure to azathioprine did not increase the risk of major infections (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval 0.8-3.2; P = .15) or developmental problems (OR, 1.22; 95% CI 0.44-3.42; P = .702).

Only the age of the child at assessment was associated with an increased risk of developmental problems, which were defined as attention–deficit/hyperactivity disorder, developmental delay, special needs, or special-education needs (OR, 1.15; P = .003).

The study provides "reassuring data to counsel women who are planning pregnancy in the future," Dr. Mary Gayed said the annual meeting of the British Society for Rheumatology.

"We know, from previous research, that certain immunosuppressant agents are used in pregnancy for lupus to prevent flare and to ensure optimum outcome for mother and child," Dr. Gayed said, but there have been few studies looking at long-term outcomes.

Dr. Gayed, a rheumatologist at Sandwell and West Birmingham (England) Hospitals, noted that the few, small studies that have been conducted have suggested a link between azathioprine use and an increased risk of infection, the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies, and developmental delay in the child.

To investigate the long-term consequences of SLE drugs on children’s outcomes further, Dr. Gayed and her associates performed a retrospective study involving eight English centers. The study involved a total of 287 children aged 17 years or younger who were born to 200 women who, before giving birth, had satisfied four or more SLE criteria as defined by the American College of Rheumatology.

The women had a mean age of 32 years when they gave birth to their first child and had a median disease duration of 7.1 years. The majority (65%) of women were white, with 15% of mothers being Asian, 10% Afro-Caribbean, and the remainder of "other" or unspecified ethnicity.

Maternal antibodies were detected in the children, including anti-Ro with or without lupus anticoagulant in 38%, any antiphospholipid antibody in 43%, lupus anticoagulant specifically in 33%, and anticardiolipin (IgG or IgM) in 23%.

Dr. Gayed reported that aspirin was the most commonly used drug during pregnancy and that 202 children had been exposed to it during their mothers’ pregnancy, followed by prednisolone exposure in 169 children, hydroxychloroquine in 152, azathioprine in 88, and heparin in 70. Another three children were exposed to cyclosporine, and one to mycophenolate.

In terms of obstetric outcomes, only 10% of mothers had experienced preeclampsia, of which 6% of cases were severe enough to warrant induction. Intrauterine growth restriction occurred in 11% of pregnancies (not known in a further 6%), with only 7% of cases being severe enough for the mother to be induced.

The mean gestation period was 36.3 weeks and most children were born by vaginal delivery (49%), with 39% born by cesarean section, and 11% with the aid of forceps. The mean birth weight of neonates was 2.7 kg.

The children were assessed at a mean age of 4.6 years. Infection requiring hospital assessment occurred in 40 (14%) of the 287 children studied. The age at which infections occurred reflected the age at which children were assessed in the study, with around half of all infections seen occurring in children less than 5 years of age.

Around 40% of infections were chest-related, Dr. Gayed reported: 17% were caused by pneumonia, 12% bronchiolitis, 5% upper respiratory tract infection, and 7% tonsillitis.

The age of children at assessment, the duration of pregnancy, and birth weight were also not associated with infection risk.

Dr. Gayed had no conflicts of interest. One coauthor disclosed receiving consultancy fees and honoraria from Genentech and Roche and an educational grant from Aspreva/Vifor.

[email protected]