A Woman with Rheumatoid Arthritis Who Successfully Delivered a Healthy Child with Continuous Administration of Sarilumab Throughout Pregnancy

Intern Med. 2023 Feb 15;62(4):633-636. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.9607-22. Epub 2022 Jul 22.

Abstract

We herein report a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who successfully delivered a healthy child with continuous administration of sarilumab throughout pregnancy. She delivered her first child, a healthy boy, following in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) while using etanercept and low-dose prednisolone. Disease activity persisted after delivery, so etanercept was switched to sarilumab. She became pregnant by IVF-ET again. Because RA was still active, sarilumab was continued during pregnancy. She delivered a healthy girl at the 38th week of gestation by Caesarean section. No abnormalities were detected at or within 6 months after birth. Sarilumab was safe and effective in this pregnant woman with RA.

Keywords: assisted reproductive technology; infertility; interleukin-6 inhibitor; pregnancy; rheumatoid arthritis; sarilumab.

MeSH terms

  • Antirheumatic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / complications
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / drug therapy
  • Cesarean Section
  • Child
  • Etanercept / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • sarilumab
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Etanercept