ﺑﺎﺯﮔﺸﺖ ﺑﻪ ﺻﻔﺤﻪ ﻗﺒﻠﯽ
خرید پکیج
تعداد آیتم قابل مشاهده باقیمانده : 3 مورد
نسخه الکترونیک
medimedia.ir

Patient education: Rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy (Beyond the Basics)

Patient education: Rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy (Beyond the Basics)
Literature review current through: Jan 2024.
This topic last updated: Mar 07, 2022.

INTRODUCTION — Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects 1 percent of the adults in the United States, with more women affected than men. Many women with RA are of childbearing age, which highlights the importance of careful family planning especially in patients who are taking medications or who have active disease.

In many women with RA, disease activity improves substantially during pregnancy. However, some women's RA flares up or stays active during pregnancy. Thus, it is often necessary to change or modify treatment of RA during pregnancy to control flares while minimizing the risks of RA treatments to the developing fetus.

A number of other topics about RA are available separately. (See "Patient education: Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and diagnosis (Beyond the Basics)" and "Patient education: Rheumatoid arthritis treatment (Beyond the Basics)" and "Patient education: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (Beyond the Basics)".)

CHANGES IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS DURING PREGNANCY — Many changes to the immune system occur normally during pregnancy. These changes enable a fetus to grow and develop. Some of these changes contribute to the improvement of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms during pregnancy.

Disease activity during pregnancy — Approximately 50 to 60 percent of women with RA notice improvement of RA signs and symptoms during pregnancy. The decrease in disease activity generally starts in the first trimester and lasts through delivery. Unfortunately, we cannot predict which patients will get better during pregnancy and which patients will flare.

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the common discomforts of pregnancy and the symptoms of RA. Pregnancy discomforts that are similar to those of RA include the following:

Fatigue

Swelling of the hands, feet, or ankles

Joint pain, especially in the low back

Shortness of breath

Numbness or pain in one or both hands (caused by carpal tunnel syndrome of pregnancy)

Pregnancy outcome — Research shows no increase in stillbirth or miscarriage in women who have RA. However, some medications, particularly high-dose steroids, may increase the risk of having a smaller-than-normal infant and may increase the risk of premature rupture of the membranes. Women with very active disease during pregnancy are also at risk of having smaller infants and premature deliveries.

CARE BEFORE PREGNANCY — Women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) should discuss their desire to become pregnant with an arthritis specialist (rheumatologist) and an obstetrical care provider before trying to become pregnant.

General recommendations that apply to all women who are considering pregnancy can be found separately. In addition:

If a woman takes prescription or nonprescription medications for RA, these should be reviewed with a healthcare provider. Some medications are safe during pregnancy while others are not. In some cases, an alternate medication can be substituted for an unsafe drug.

Women who take methotrexate should stop it at least one month before trying to conceive, although the manufacturer suggests discontinuation of this medication three full menstrual cycles before attempting pregnancy. This waiting period is necessary to allow the effects of methotrexate on the body to pass so that it will be safe to become pregnant.

Women who take leflunomide must stop it for at least two years before trying to conceive, unless a course of treatments to eliminate the drug from the body is used. Thus, women of childbearing potential should discuss use of this medication with their arthritis specialist.

Am I ready for pregnancy? — It is common for women with long-term medical problems to be worried about how their health will be affected by pregnancy and parenting. Women with RA often have an improvement in symptoms of pain and fatigue during pregnancy, but then may have a worsening of these problems after delivery. Thus, it is important to be prepared for the changes that a new child may bring, including interrupted sleep, fatigue, stress, and anxiety. Close communication with an obstetric and a rheumatologic care provider, and support from family and friends, can help to ease the additional challenges of being pregnant and raising a child.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS TREATMENT DURING PREGNANCY — Some women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have disease that requires treatment during pregnancy to keep it under control. Additionally, some women with RA may flare during pregnancy. However, not all medications used to treat RA can be taken during pregnancy. The benefit of any medication must be balanced with the potential risk.

Care during pregnancy — During pregnancy, care of women with RA is usually shared between a rheumatologist and an obstetrical provider.

Medications during pregnancy — The research on safety of RA medications during pregnancy and their effects on the fetus is not always conclusive. For each patient, the decision about which drugs to use will depend upon their response to treatment, the activity of their disease, their overall medical status, and other individual factors.

As examples, methotrexate and leflunomide should be avoided completely during pregnancy, due to a significant risk of fetal harm. If a woman takes one of these medications during pregnancy, she should speak to her rheumatologist or obstetrician immediately (see 'Care before pregnancy' above). Other medications such as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be taken during one part of the pregnancy but not another; their safety during the first trimester remains uncertain, but any risk is likely to be small. However, they should not be taken after 20 weeks of pregnancy, as this can increase the risk of problems.

For some patients, the benefits of the drug in controlling disease and in maintaining function may outweigh the possible risks to the mother or to the fetus. The use of any medication for arthritis during pregnancy is thus a matter that a patient and her rheumatologist should discuss, so that potentially dangerous medications can be avoided and the individual risks and benefits of any other drug can be carefully weighed. (See "Safety of rheumatic disease medication use during pregnancy and lactation".)

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AFTER DELIVERY — Approximately 90 percent of women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience a flare during the postpartum period, usually within the first three months and particularly after a woman's first pregnancy [1]. Many experts recommend restarting RA medications in the first few weeks after delivery.

Breastfeeding and rheumatoid arthritis activity — The postpartum period is a common time for women with RA to have a flare of the disease, so it is difficult to know if breastfeeding further increases this risk. However, there are numerous benefits of breastfeeding for both women and their infants. For these reasons, women with RA who want to breastfeed are encouraged to do so. (See "Patient education: Deciding to breastfeed (Beyond the Basics)".)

Medications and breastfeeding — Many of the same restrictions on medication use during pregnancy apply also to breastfeeding mothers [2]:

Shorter-acting nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, can be used in lactating women.

Low-dose aspirin (81 mg a day) is compatible with nursing, but higher doses should be avoided.

Prednisone can be taken in low doses. At doses higher than 20 mg a day, it is recommended to pump and discard breast milk that is produced during the first four hours after ingestion.

Methotrexate and leflunomide should be avoided during breastfeeding.

Azathioprine, hydroxychloroquine, and sulfasalazine are compatible with nursing.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors such as etanercept, infliximab, or adalimumab are compatible with breastfeeding.

While there are limited data on other biologics such as abatacept, tocilizumab, and rituximab, these molecules' large size suggest that little of these medications will be transferred into breast milk, and therefore, these medications are compatible with nursing.

Tofacitinib and baricitinib should be avoided in lactating women.

The quality of information regarding medication safety in breastfeeding varies. A reliable source of up-to-date information is LactMed, which is available from the National Library of Medicine.

Several topic reviews about breastfeeding are available separately. (See "Patient education: Deciding to breastfeed (Beyond the Basics)" and "Patient education: Common breastfeeding problems (Beyond the Basics)" and "Patient education: Pumping breast milk (Beyond the Basics)" and "Patient education: Health and nutrition during breastfeeding (Beyond the Basics)".)

Birth control and rheumatoid arthritis — After delivering an infant, before resuming sexual relations, it is important to start thinking about birth control. A number of birth control options are available, most of which are safe and effective for women with RA. In most cases, RA should not affect which birth control method a woman chooses.

A full discussion of birth control options is available separately. (See "Patient education: Birth control; which method is right for me? (Beyond the Basics)".)

WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION — Your healthcare provider is the best source of information for questions and concerns related to your medical problem.

This article will be updated as needed on our web site (www.uptodate.com/patients). Related topics for patients, as well as selected articles written for healthcare professionals, are also available. Some of the most relevant are listed below.

Patient level information — UpToDate offers two types of patient education materials.

The Basics — The Basics patient education pieces answer the four or five key questions a patient might have about a given condition. These articles are best for patients who want a general overview and who prefer short, easy-to-read materials.

Patient education: Rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy (The Basics)
Patient education: Rheumatoid arthritis (The Basics)

Beyond the Basics — Beyond the Basics patient education pieces are longer, more sophisticated, and more detailed. These articles are best for patients who want in-depth information and are comfortable with some medical jargon.

Patient education: Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and diagnosis (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Rheumatoid arthritis treatment (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Deciding to breastfeed (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Common breastfeeding problems (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Pumping breast milk (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Health and nutrition during breastfeeding (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Birth control; which method is right for me? (Beyond the Basics)

Professional level information — Professional level articles are designed to keep doctors and other health professionals up-to-date on the latest medical findings. These articles are thorough, long, and complex, and they contain multiple references to the research on which they are based. Professional level articles are best for people who are comfortable with a lot of medical terminology and who want to read the same materials their doctors are reading.

Rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy
Safety of rheumatic disease medication use during pregnancy and lactation

The following organizations also provide reliable health information.

National Library of Medicine

(www.medlineplus.gov/healthtopics.html)

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

(www.niams.nih.gov)

The Arthritis Foundation

(www.arthritis.org)

American College of Rheumatology

(www.rheumatology.org)

[1-7]

Disclaimer: This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider's examination and assessment of a patient's specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms. 2024© UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.
Topic 510 Version 25.0

آیا می خواهید مدیلیب را به صفحه اصلی خود اضافه کنید؟