Key clinical point: In women with well-controlled rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the use of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) during pregnancy was associated with increased birth weight of the offspring and the birth of fewer small-for-gestational age (SGA) children without an increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Major finding: Compared with non-use of TNFi , the use of TNFi during pregnancy significantly increased the mean birth weight of the offspring (absolute difference 173 g; P = .03) and led to fewer SGA children being born (9.8% vs 20.0%; P = .05) without increasing the risk for large-for-gestational age and adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as prematurity, low birth weight of offspring, cesarean section, and hypertensive disorders.
Study details: Findings are from a prospective cohort study including 188 women with RA, of which 92 used TNFi during pregnancy.
Disclosures: This study was supported by the Dutch Arthritis Foundation and UCB. No competing interests were declared.
Source: Smeele HTW et al. Tumour necrosis factor inhibitor use during pregnancy is associated with increased birth weight of rheumatoid arthritis patients’ offspring. Ann Rheum Dis. 2022 (Jul 11). Doi: 10.1136/ard-2022-222679