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Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation

Neonatal Lupus and IUGR Following Alpha-Interferon Therapy during Pregnancy

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Abstract

Interferon alfa-2a is a cytokine produced by recombinant DNA techniques and has antiproliferative, antiviral and immunomodulating effects. A number of case reports in the past have suggested relative safety of alpha-interferons during pregnancy with little or no effect on the fetus. A 15-year-old adolescent became pregnant while receiving alpha-interferon for essential thrombocythemia. She delivered a small-for-gestational age baby girl at 33 weeks gestation. The infant displayed a facial rash characteristic of neonatal lupus and transient thrombocytopenia; maternal and neonatal serologies were typical for drug-induced lupus. These findings suggest probable association between maternal use of alpha interferon and adverse effects in the fetus.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr Shalini Shenoy and Dr Bharti Razdan for their help in preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Pittsburgh (M.F.), Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Melinda Fritz MD

  2. Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation (K.V.), Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Kalyani Vats MD

  3. Division of Neonatology (R.K.G.), Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Rakesh K Goyal MD

Authors
  1. Melinda Fritz MD
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  2. Kalyani Vats MD
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  3. Rakesh K Goyal MD
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Fritz, M., Vats, K. & Goyal, R. Neonatal Lupus and IUGR Following Alpha-Interferon Therapy during Pregnancy. J Perinatol 25, 552–554 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211342

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211342

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