PREGNANT PATIENT WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS TREATED WITH METHOTREXATE AND INFLIXIMAB
Authors:
Marija Bakula, Mislav Cerovec, Krešimir Rukavina, Nada Čikeš, Branimir Anić
Summary
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.
Sažetak
Vol.: Reumatizam 2016;63(1):6–9