Maternal Exposure to Anti-TNF or Thiopurines for IBD Does Not Increase Risk of Early-life Malignancy in Children

Abstract

Thiopurines and anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) are increasingly used during the pregnancy of women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These drugs do not increase the rate of malformations and serious infections in children who have been exposed in utero. Yet, recent large-scale studies have shown that thiopurines are associated with increased rates of stillbirths, preterm births, and large for gestational age infants, whereas combination of thiopurines and anti-TNF is associated with increased rates of serious infections during the first year of life.