Sirolimus
What is it?
Sirolimus is a medicine that dampens the immune response. It is most commonly used following a kidney transplant to prevent the body from rejecting the new organ. It is also used to treat a rare, potentially serious lung disease called sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis.
Benefits
What are the benefits of taking sirolimus in pregnancy?
Sirolimus reduces the risks of organ rejection following a kidney transplant and can help to slow disease progression in people with sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Both of these can be life-threatening and can lead to pregnancy complications.
Most pregnant women who take sirolimus will have started doing so before pregnancy. If so, it should be reviewed at the earliest opportunity by your specialist.
Risks
Are there any risks of taking sirolimus during pregnancy?
Very few pregnant women taking sirolimus have been studied, and while no obvious problems have been noted, further women need to be studied to rule out any ill-effects.
Alternatives
Are there any alternative to taking sirolimus in pregnancy?
Possibly. Women who are taking sirolimus and planning a pregnancy should speak to their doctor to discuss the possibility of switching to a different medicine. However, this may not be advisable for everyone and use of sirolimus in pregnancy may sometimes be considered necessary to prevent the rejection of a transplanted organ or to control sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis.
If you are already pregnant you should let your midwife, GP and/or obstetrician know that you are taking sirolimus so that it can be reviewed as soon as possible. However, do not stop taking sirolimus unless upon medical advice.
No treatment
What if I prefer not to take medicines in pregnancy?
It is very important to take any medicines prescribed to prevent organ rejection if you have received a transplant, and to reduce lung damage if you have sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis. These can be dangerous to the mother and can also lead to pregnancy complications.
Your doctor will only prescribe medicines when absolutely necessary and will be happy to talk to you about any concerns that you might have.
Please do not stop sirolimus without speaking to your midwife, GP or specialist.
Will my baby need extra monitoring?
All pregnant women in the UK should be offered a detailed anomaly scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy as part of their routine antenatal care. No extra monitoring for major birth defects is required following sirolimus use in pregnancy.
Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken sirolimus?
We would not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father takes sirolimus.
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.