According to a study presented at the European Congress of Rheumatologycertolizumab pegol (Cimzia), prescribed in case of rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, is believed to be safe for the fetus when used during pregnancy.
A study of 16 pregnant women
For this study, Professor Xavier Mariette, from the rheumatology department of the Kremlin-Bicêtre hospital and his colleagues, followed 16 pregnant women over 30 weeks who were receiving certolizumab pegol at a maintenance dose (200 milligrams every every 2 weeks or 400 milligrams every 4 weeks) for various pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease or ankylosing spondylitis. All patients received their last dose within 35 days of delivery.
Blood samples were taken from mothers, umbilical cords, and infants at delivery. Then in infants again at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum. The study shows an absence of exposure in utero and no anti-certolizumab pegol antibodies were detected in mothers, umbilical cords or infants.
For Professor Mariette, these results are good news for pregnant women with an active inflammatory disease. Because it shows that they can continue their treatment with certolizumab pegol during pregnancy.
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