Is Interferon-β Safe During Pregnancy in Women with Multiple Sclerosis?

Use of IFN-β during the first 4 weeks of pregnancy did not raise risk for spontaneous abortion.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) raises special concerns when it occurs in women of reproductive age. Effective disease-modifying agents include interferon-β (IFN-β). In a prospective observational study that involved 21 Italian MS centers, investigators examined pregnancy outcomes (in particular, spontaneous abortion) in women with MS who did or did not use IFN-β. Exposure to IFN-β occurred within 4 weeks of conception in 88 pregnancies; in 308 pregnancies, no exposure to IFN-β occurred.

In the exposed and unexposed groups, rates of spontaneous abortion (7.9% and 5.8%) and cesarean delivery (44.7% and 45.1%) were similar and were consistent with rates in the general Italian population. Rates of preterm birth were higher in the exposed group than in …

Reviewing Author

Autumn Klein, MD, PhD

Is Interferon-β Safe During Pregnancy in Women with Multiple Sclerosis?

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Reviewing Author