Review
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 7, 2013; 19(17): 2591-2602
Published online May 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i17.2591
Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor therapy and fetal risk: A systematic literature review
Renée M Marchioni, Gary R Lichtenstein
Renée M Marchioni, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, United States
Gary R Lichtenstein, Division of Gastroenterology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
Author contributions: Marchioni RM and Lichtenstein GR designed the concept for this review; Marchioni RM performed the literature search; Marchioni RM and Lichtenstein GR analyzed the data; Marchioni RM composed the paper.
Correspondence to: Gary R Lichtenstein, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, GI Administration Offices, 9th Floor Penn Tower, One Convention Avenue, PA 19104, United States. grl@uphs.upenn.edu
Telephone: +1-215-3498222 Fax: +1-215-3495915
Received: October 17, 2012
Revised: March 1, 2013
Accepted: March 15, 2013
Published online: May 7, 2013
Core Tip

Core tip: A systematic literature review was performed to identify all human studies with birth outcomes data after maternal exposure to infliximab, adalimumab, or certolizumab pegol within 3 mo of conception or during any trimester of pregnancy. After systematic literature review investigating tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor therapy and fetal risk, there is insufficient evidence to prove absolute safety for the use of biologics (specifically infliximab, adalimumab, and certolizumab pegol) during pregnancy.