Infliximab is a drug that belongs to the family of monoclonal antibodies: it is used in the treatment of Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. In France, it is marketed under the names Flixabi®, Inflectra®, Remicade®, Remsima® and Zessly®.
Yes, but here it is: when used during pregnancy, infliximab can cross the placental barrier. It can thus be detected in the blood of children born to mothers under treatment up to 12 months after birth. This molecule can also pass into breast milk when the mother is under treatment during breastfeeding.
For this reason, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM) has just published a recommendation: considering the fact that “the immune defenses of infants exposed to infliximab during pregnancy or while breastfeeding may be reduced due to the passage of this molecule in the blood of the fetus and in breast milk“it is preferable to postpone the vaccination”by a live attenuated vaccine (such as MMR or BCG vaccines)” at the age of 1 year in the children concerned.
Authorities advise postponing MMR and BCG vaccines
Moreover, “administration of a live vaccine to a child of a breastfeeding mother treated with infliximab is not recommended“.
Are you treated with infliximab (Flixabi®, Inflectra®, Remicade®, Remsima® or Zessly®) and are you breastfeeding your baby? Were you treated with infliximab during your pregnancy? The ANSM recommends that you notify your doctor/paediatrician as soon as possible if “will issue a temporary vaccination contraindication certificate for your child for medical reasons, in order to allow your child to access community childcare“.
If the doctor / pediatrician nevertheless deems the vaccination necessary, he can “be required to perform a blood test on your child to ensure that there is no more infliximab in his body“.
Source : Vidal Encyclopedia
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