Would you use belimumab in a breastfeeding patient with SLE who has persistent joint pain, leukopenia and elevated dsDNA despite HCQ and azathioprine?   

While our understanding of the biologics safety in breastfeeding is still evolving and data is limited, based on my literature review, there are no signals that Belimumab is associated with an increased risk of adverse events in pregnancy/breastfeeding. Belimumab is a relatively large molecule, ther...

I agree with the comments from Drs. @Broder and @Edens regarding evidence to date that belimumab is safe for breastfeeding mothers and their child as well as likely during pregnancy. My additional comment addresses the issue of musculoskeletal complaints in a patient despite HCQ and azathioprine eve...

YES!!! As a large monoclonal antibody, Belimumab has little, if any passage into breastmilk, similar to other biologics. And if this medication did enter into breastmilk, as a protein, it would be digested by the infants stomach and not absorbed or have any therapeutic possiblity. This also why they...