Successful pregnancies in patients with BCR-ABL-positive leukemias treated with interferon-alpha therapy during the tyrosine kinase inhibitors era.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Management of pregnant patients with BCR-ABL-positive leukemia is challenging. Managing a patient who has been diagnosed while pregnant requires a different approach as compared to a patient who plans to become pregnant while on the treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). Interferon (IFN)-alpha is a useful option in both situations due to teratogenic potential of TKIs.

METHODS:

We presented a series of 12 successful pregnancies in 11 women with BCR-ABL-positive leukemia, whose leukemia was managed with IFN-alpha throughout their pregnancy.

RESULTS:

All children have normal growth and development. All patients remained at least in hematological response and could start or resume TKI after delivery or breastfeeding.

CONCLUSION:

Because of the increased risk of teratogenicity and spontaneous abortion in female patient with pregnancy, when receiving TKI, IFN-alpha can be considered a safe drug to be administered throughout pregnancy and could represent the drug of choice in this situation during the era of TKI therapy.

• Authors: Marie Balsat, Madeleine Etienne, Mohamed Elhamri, Sandrine Hayette, Gilles Salles, Xavier Thomas
• Journal: European journal of haematology (Eur J Haematol) Vol. 101 Issue 6 Pg. 774-780 (Dec 2018) ISSN: 1600-0609 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 30179268 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Interferon-alpha
• Protein Kinase Inhibitors
• Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Leukemia (diagnosis, drug therapy, metabolism)
• Male
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic (drug therapy)
• Pregnancy Outcome
• Protein Kinase Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome