Etanercept
Quick read
Etanercept can be used in pregnancy to treat inflammatory illnesses. Babies who were exposed in later pregnancy might be offered some of their vaccinations at a later time than usual.
What is it?
Etanercept is an antibody therapy used to treat inflammatory illnesses, including psoriasis and certain types of arthritis.
Benefits
What are the benefits of using etanercept in pregnancy?
Etanercept reduces inflammation by stopping the immune system from attacking the body’s tissues. This is important to reduce unpleasant symptoms and prevent long-term damage. It may also lower the chance of some pregnancy problems linked to uncontrolled inflammation, including miscarriage and lower infant birth weight.
Risks
What are the risks of using etanercept in pregnancy?
Use of etanercept in pregnancy has been studied in around 1,200 women. There is no suggestion that etanercept affects the baby’s development but ongoing data collection is ideally required to confirm this.
Etanercept used in later pregnancy can potentially affect the baby’s immune system for several months after birth. Live vaccines should be avoided during this time. This means that the baby cannot be vaccinated against rotavirus (as this needs to be completed by four months) and is unlikely to be offered the BCG vaccine (if required) until they are at least six months old. A doctor will be able to advise about the best time for the baby to be given any live vaccinations.
Alternatives
Are there any alternatives to using etanercept in pregnancy?
Yes. Other medicines can often be used to treat inflammatory conditions during pregnancy, although for some women these may not work as well as etanercept.
You may find that your symptoms improve during pregnancy; if so, your specialist may advise that your medicine(s) can be altered or stopped. However, please do not change or stop your medication without speaking to your doctor.
If you are planning a pregnancy you should speak to your specialist to determine which medicine is best. This can be arranged through your GP or specialist clinic.
If you become pregnant while taking etanercept you should be reviewed by your doctor as soon as possible.
No treatment
What if I prefer not to take etanercept during pregnancy?
It is important that inflammatory conditions are well-treated during pregnancy in order to avoid a flare-up of symptoms and to reduce the chance of certain pregnancy complications. A doctor will be happy to discuss any concerns.
Will I or my baby need extra monitoring?
As part of routine antenatal care in the UK, women are invited for a very detailed scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy to check the baby’s development. No further scans to check for birth defects will be required, although extra growth scans may be offered because inflammatory illness can affect the baby’s growth.
Are there any risks to my baby if the father has used etanercept?
There is currently no evidence that etanercept used by the father can harm the baby through effects on the sperm.
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.