Lupus 2022 Nov 30
Dilemma of belimumab therapy (dis)continuation during pregnancy: Results of a retrospective study in eudravigilance.
Abstract
Introduction
The first biologic authorized for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) up to this date, belimumab, is currently not recommended for use during pregnancy due to lack of data. Provided that the health of the child begins with the health of the mother, pregnant patients face the dilemma of cessation or continuation of belimumab. If belimumab is stopped, there will be a risk of SLE flare and its consequences for the mother and the foetus. Continuation is also not optimal because of the lack of knowledge on safety for use during pregnancy.
Aim
To compare the reported foetal outcomes in SLE patients who stopped scheduled belimumab within the first trimester (group A) and those who continued scheduled belimumab during the first trimester or thereafter (group B).
Material and method
All belimumab-exposed pregnancy-related reports were extracted from the EudraVigilance (EV) database until March 11th, 2021. After case review, repeated cases, uninformative reports, non-medical elective abortions and foetal chromosomal abnormalities were excluded. Included pregnancies were divided into two groups (group A and B, as described above). Foetal outcomes were divided into live birth or foetal death (due to miscarriage or stillbirth) and were compared between both groups. Furthermore, neonatal outcomes, such as reporting rates of preterm birth, low birth weight and major congenital malformations were compared.
Results
No statistical difference in foetal death was observed between group A and B (reported numbers (%) = 32 (46.4) and 11 (52.4), respectively). Odds ratio (OR, [95% Confidence Intervals (CIs)]) of foetal death in group B compared to group A was 1.27 [0.48, 3.32]. Reporting rates of preterm birth and low birth weight were higher - though not statistically different - in group A.
Conclusion
The positive results of our study are supportive for the continuation of belimumab during pregnancy. Since the analysis is based on spontaneous reports/retrospective data, additional studies are needed to confirm the results.
Related Questions
Would you continue belimumab in high risk lupus patients with overlapping scleroderma features with ILD who become pregnant and who are already on HCQ and azathioprine?
If "high risk" means at high risk of flare or increased disease activity, then "yes." I always have a shared decision-making conversation with the patient first. This almost always occurs well before conception/pregnancy, as I strongly believe in contraception and pregnancy conversations early in th...
Do you continue belimumab throughout pregnancy?
@Dr. First Last: @Dr. First Last is absolutely correct regarding the limitations of our studies regarding using belimumab in pregnancy.However, how much more evidence do we need?No one is going to perform a prospective randomized controlled trial. I and some others I know are feeling more comfortabl...