The management of severe ulcerative colitis during the third trimester of pregnancy

Salvage therapy for acute severe ulcerative colitis during pregnancy

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with an age of onset that affects young people during the peak of their reproductive years. Management of flares of disease during pregnancy can be complex and there are few case reports of pregnant women with acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC). We present the case of a 31-year-old pregnant woman who at 16 weeks gestation developed ASUC in the context of primary non-response to infliximab therapy. She subsequently underwent an emergency laparoscopic colectomy after failing to respond to hydrocortisone and cyclosporine salvage therapy. Her pregnancy was further complicated by HELLP (Haemolysis, Elevated liver enzymes and Low Platelets) syndrome resulting in premature delivery at 27 weeks gestation. This case highlights the management issues involved in ASUC during pregnancy and the assessment of disease activity, use of salvage therapies, and provides a framework to approach this complex medical emergency.

Anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor α Therapies and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Pregnancy Outcomes: A Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) commonly affects women during their reproductive years, leading to concerns regarding pregnancy outcomes and therapeutic safety. The aim of this study was to assess the risks associated with anti-tumour necrosis factor α (anti-TNFα) therapy for pregnancy outcomes, including rates of congenital abnormality, based on published studies.

METHODS

Published studies were screened from on-line databases and international meeting abstracts. A meta-analysis was performed for adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), congenital abnormalities (CAs), preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW). The prevalence of CAs was compared with whole-population pooled registry data.

RESULTS

In women exposed to anti-TNFα the pooled odds ratio for APOs was 1.14 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73-1.78; p = 0.55) compared with disease-matched controls. The pooled odds ratios for CAs, PTB and LBW were 0.89 (0.37-2.13; p = 0.79), 1.21 (0.74-2.00; p = 0.45) and 1.36 (0.77-2.38; p = 0.29) respectively. The rate of CAs in TNFα-exposed women was not statistically different from that in population-wide registries (difference 0.4%, 95% CI -2.0 to +2.7).

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-TNFα therapy does not increase the risk of APOs, CAs, PTB or LBW compared with disease-matched controls. Furthermore, the risk of CAs is not increased when published prevalence data are compared with data for the general population. These findings may offer some reassurance for women and physicians regarding the safety profile of anti-TNFα during pregnancy in IBD.