Analysis of Pregnancy Outcomes Following Exposure to Intramuscular Interferon Beta-1a: The AVONEX® Pregnancy Exposure Registry

Abstract Background and Objectives There is a lack of well-controlled US studies of intramuscular (IM) interferon beta (IFNβ)-1a use in pregnant women with multiple sclerosis; however, in the European Medicines Agency region, IFNβ formulations may be considered during pregnancy if clinically needed...

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Main Authors: Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, Amy Perrin Ross, Jonathan Planton, Kurt White, Avni Pandhi, Andres Greco, Achint Kumar, Nicholas Everage, Megan Vignos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Adis, Springer Healthcare 2023-09-01
Series:Drugs - Real World Outcomes
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40801-023-00384-0
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author Bianca Weinstock-Guttman
Amy Perrin Ross
Jonathan Planton
Kurt White
Avni Pandhi
Andres Greco
Achint Kumar
Nicholas Everage
Megan Vignos
author_facet Bianca Weinstock-Guttman
Amy Perrin Ross
Jonathan Planton
Kurt White
Avni Pandhi
Andres Greco
Achint Kumar
Nicholas Everage
Megan Vignos
author_sort Bianca Weinstock-Guttman
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background and Objectives There is a lack of well-controlled US studies of intramuscular (IM) interferon beta (IFNβ)-1a use in pregnant women with multiple sclerosis; however, in the European Medicines Agency region, IFNβ formulations may be considered during pregnancy if clinically needed based on data from European Union cohort registries. The AVONEX Pregnancy Exposure Registry was established to prospectively study the effects of IM IFNβ-1a on the risk of birth defects and spontaneous pregnancy loss in a US population. Methods Pregnant women with multiple sclerosis exposed to IM IFNβ-1a within ~ 1 week of conception or during the first trimester were included. Participants were followed until there was a pregnancy outcome, live-born infants were followed until age 8–12 weeks. Data were collected on IM IFNβ-1a exposure, demographics, patient characteristics, medical history, and pregnancy outcomes, including live births (with or without birth defect), spontaneous abortions/miscarriages and fetal death/stillbirth, elective abortions (with and without birth defect), and ectopic pregnancies. A population-based birth defect surveillance program, the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program (MACDP), served as the primary external control group for evaluating the risk of birth defects. Results Three-hundred and two patients with a median (range) age of 31.0 (16–48) years and a median (range) gestational age at the time of enrollment of 10.1 (4–39) weeks were evaluable. Most patients (n = 278/302; 92%) reported IM IFNβ-1a exposure in the week before conception and most (n = 293/302; 97%) discontinued treatment before the end of the first trimester. Of 306 pregnancy outcomes, there were 272 live births, 28 spontaneous abortions of 266 pregnancies enrolled before 22 weeks’ gestation (rate 10.5%; 95% confidence interval 7.2–15.0), five elective abortions, and one stillbirth. There were 17 adjudicator-confirmed major birth defects of 272 live births (rate 6.3%; 95% confidence interval 3.8–10.0); the pattern of birth defects observed was not suggestive of a relationship to prenatal IM IFNβ-1a exposure. Conclusions This large US registry study suggests IM IFNβ-1a exposure during early pregnancy was not clinically associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with multiple sclerosis. These findings help inform clinicians and patients in weighing the risks and benefits of IM IFNβ-1a use during pregnancy. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00168714, 15 September, 2005.
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spelling doaj.art-c4a61d7c7dfa47a1976981b1d5e0ba6e2023-12-24T12:30:30ZengAdis, Springer HealthcareDrugs - Real World Outcomes2199-11542198-97882023-09-0110450351110.1007/s40801-023-00384-0Analysis of Pregnancy Outcomes Following Exposure to Intramuscular Interferon Beta-1a: The AVONEX® Pregnancy Exposure RegistryBianca Weinstock-Guttman0Amy Perrin Ross1Jonathan Planton2Kurt White3Avni Pandhi4Andres Greco5Achint Kumar6Nicholas Everage7Megan Vignos8Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of BuffaloLoyola University ChicagoBiogenBiogenBiogenBiogenBiogenBiogenBiogenAbstract Background and Objectives There is a lack of well-controlled US studies of intramuscular (IM) interferon beta (IFNβ)-1a use in pregnant women with multiple sclerosis; however, in the European Medicines Agency region, IFNβ formulations may be considered during pregnancy if clinically needed based on data from European Union cohort registries. The AVONEX Pregnancy Exposure Registry was established to prospectively study the effects of IM IFNβ-1a on the risk of birth defects and spontaneous pregnancy loss in a US population. Methods Pregnant women with multiple sclerosis exposed to IM IFNβ-1a within ~ 1 week of conception or during the first trimester were included. Participants were followed until there was a pregnancy outcome, live-born infants were followed until age 8–12 weeks. Data were collected on IM IFNβ-1a exposure, demographics, patient characteristics, medical history, and pregnancy outcomes, including live births (with or without birth defect), spontaneous abortions/miscarriages and fetal death/stillbirth, elective abortions (with and without birth defect), and ectopic pregnancies. A population-based birth defect surveillance program, the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program (MACDP), served as the primary external control group for evaluating the risk of birth defects. Results Three-hundred and two patients with a median (range) age of 31.0 (16–48) years and a median (range) gestational age at the time of enrollment of 10.1 (4–39) weeks were evaluable. Most patients (n = 278/302; 92%) reported IM IFNβ-1a exposure in the week before conception and most (n = 293/302; 97%) discontinued treatment before the end of the first trimester. Of 306 pregnancy outcomes, there were 272 live births, 28 spontaneous abortions of 266 pregnancies enrolled before 22 weeks’ gestation (rate 10.5%; 95% confidence interval 7.2–15.0), five elective abortions, and one stillbirth. There were 17 adjudicator-confirmed major birth defects of 272 live births (rate 6.3%; 95% confidence interval 3.8–10.0); the pattern of birth defects observed was not suggestive of a relationship to prenatal IM IFNβ-1a exposure. Conclusions This large US registry study suggests IM IFNβ-1a exposure during early pregnancy was not clinically associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with multiple sclerosis. These findings help inform clinicians and patients in weighing the risks and benefits of IM IFNβ-1a use during pregnancy. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00168714, 15 September, 2005.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40801-023-00384-0
spellingShingle Bianca Weinstock-Guttman
Amy Perrin Ross
Jonathan Planton
Kurt White
Avni Pandhi
Andres Greco
Achint Kumar
Nicholas Everage
Megan Vignos
Analysis of Pregnancy Outcomes Following Exposure to Intramuscular Interferon Beta-1a: The AVONEX® Pregnancy Exposure Registry
Drugs - Real World Outcomes
title Analysis of Pregnancy Outcomes Following Exposure to Intramuscular Interferon Beta-1a: The AVONEX® Pregnancy Exposure Registry
title_full Analysis of Pregnancy Outcomes Following Exposure to Intramuscular Interferon Beta-1a: The AVONEX® Pregnancy Exposure Registry
title_fullStr Analysis of Pregnancy Outcomes Following Exposure to Intramuscular Interferon Beta-1a: The AVONEX® Pregnancy Exposure Registry
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of Pregnancy Outcomes Following Exposure to Intramuscular Interferon Beta-1a: The AVONEX® Pregnancy Exposure Registry
title_short Analysis of Pregnancy Outcomes Following Exposure to Intramuscular Interferon Beta-1a: The AVONEX® Pregnancy Exposure Registry
title_sort analysis of pregnancy outcomes following exposure to intramuscular interferon beta 1a the avonex r pregnancy exposure registry
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s40801-023-00384-0
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