Long-term follow-up of babies exposed to azathioprine in utero and via breastfeeding

Abstract

Our study which reports the largest number of babies breastfed with exposure to AZA suggests that breastfeeding does not increase the risk of infections.

Immunophenotypic Profile and Increased Risk of Hospital Admission for Infection in Infants Born to Female Kidney Transplant Recipients

“…Now different studies suggest that breastfeeding might be offered as an option to women on immunosuppressors such as prednisone, azathioprine and tacrolimus (14,15,40). The five infants in our study whose mothers opted for breastfeeding, when tested for lymphocyte immunophenotyping at 8 months of age, all had normal lymphocyte numbers, except for one who had borderline B cell numbers at that age, but normal levels when retested at 17 months.…”

“…However, in the beginning of 2011, due to new evidence that infants' immunosuppressor serum levels might be very low or undetectable (12)(13)(14)(15), the restriction not to breastfeed was taken in each case depending on discussion between the healthcare team and the mothers.…”

Management of Fertility and Pregnancy in Women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…56 A long-term follow-up study of babies whose mothers breastfed for at least 6 months on azathioprine showed that there was no increased risk of infections and no impairment of physical or mental development of the children to at least 3.3 years (women who breastfed on AZA) versus 4.7 years (women who did not breastfeed on AZA). 57 Given these newer data, we recommend continuing AZA/6-MP while breastfeeding.…”

Inflammatory bowel disease in women of reproductive age

“…Studies have shown that infants are not at an increased risk of infections when breastfed by mothers exposed to thiopurines [70]. Overall, thiopurines are considered compatible with breastfeeding, although the long-term outcome of infants exposed to minute amounts during lactation are not known.…”