Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Use Increases Birthweight in Pregnant Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis Independently of the Soluble Fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase-1/Placental Growth Factor Ratio.

BACKGROUND: To study whether the use of TNF (tumor necrosis factor) inhibitors (TNFi) by pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis affects sFlt-1 (soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1), PlGF (placental growth factor), or their impact on birthweight. METHODS AND RESULTS: sFlt-1 and PlGF were measured in all trimesters of pregnancy in the Preconception Counseling in Active Rheumatoid Arthritis study and were compared according to the use of TNFi. The association of sFlt-1 and PlGF with birthweight in relation to TNFi was determined. The study included 158 women, of whom 52.5% used TNFi during pregnancy. Both sFlt-1 and PlGF increased during pregnancy, whereas their ratio declined. Taking into consideration the trimester-related variation in levels of sFlt-1 and PlGF, after correction for relevant confounders, the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was not significantly different between patients who did or did not use TNFi (sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in the second trimester compared with the first trimester: estimated change 8.17 [95% CI, 2.54-26.29], P=0.79; sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in the third trimester compared with the first trimester: estimated change 6.25 [95% CI, 1.73-22.50], P=0.25). In women who did not use TNFi, birthweight was significantly lower (3180 versus 3302 g; P=0.03), and sFlt-1 displayed a negative correlation with birthweight (r=-0.462, P<0.001) and birthweight percentile (r=-0.332, P=0.008). In TNFi users, these correlations were absent. CONCLUSIONS: TNF inhibitor use increases birthweight in pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis independently of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. REGISTRATION: http://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01345071.

Neuro-obstetrics: A multidisciplinary approach to care of women with neurologic disease.

The term "neuro-obstetrics" refers to a multidisciplinary approach to the care of pregnant women with neurologic comorbidities, both preconceptionally and throughout pregnancy. General preconception care should be offered to all women, including women with neurologic disease. Women with neurologic comorbidities should also be offered specialist preconception care by an obstetrician who consults with a neurologist, anesthesiologist, and if indicated clinical geneticist and/or other specialists. In women with neurologic comorbidities, neurologic sequelae may influence the course of the pregnancy and delivery. Also, pregnancy may influence the severity of the neurologic condition, depending on the type of disease. Physiologic adaptations during pregnancy and altered pharmacokinetics may cause altered blood serum levels of drugs, leading to decreased or increased drug effects. When administering drugs to a woman who wishes to conceive, it is important to consider possible teratogenic effects and possible secretion in breast milk. Tailoring medication regimens should be considered, preferably preconceptionally. In this chapter, we review general principles of neuro-obstetric care, as well as some specific considerations for neurologists, obstetricians, and anesthesiologists caring for pregnant women with common neurologic conditions.