Pregnancy management in Behçet's disease treated with uninterrupted infliximab. Report of a case with fetal growth restriction and mini-review of the literature

Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2014;41(2):205-7.

Abstract

Background: The mutual impact of Behçet's disease (BD) and pregnancy is variable and still unclear. Among the safe drugs administered, the newer infliximab (IFX) was rarely experienced in pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester.

Case: The authors report a pregnancy with fetal growth restriction at 36 weeks in a 31-year-old primigravida with symptomatic BD, treated with uninterrupted monthly IFX and daily enoxaparin. The patient was induced at 38 weeks and had an uneventful vaginal delivery of a healthy baby. The postpartum period and following six months were uneventful for mother in terms of BD exacerbation, and newborn in terms of potential risks of neonatal BD and/or infections due to late immunosuppressive IFX administration.

Conclusion: Because of the inconstant mutual impact, BD pregnancies should be precautionary considered at "potential high-risk" and need a careful and close monitoring by a multidisciplinary team with specific expertise.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Behcet Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Enoxaparin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Fetal Growth Retardation / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infliximab
  • Labor, Induced
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / drug therapy*
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Third

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Anticoagulants
  • Enoxaparin
  • Infliximab