Poster Presentation Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand ASM 2018

Vaccination Decisions and Incidence of Serious Neonatal Infections in Mothers Exposed to Biologicals and Targeted Synthetic Drugs During Pregnancy (#71)

Stephanie Bond 1 2 3 , Laurel Young 2 4 , Katherine Poulsen 2 4 , Helen L Barrett 5 , Andrew L Taylor 6 7 , Claire Barrett 2 4
  1. Townsville Hospital, Douglas, QLD, Australia
  2. University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
  3. James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
  4. Metro North, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
  5. Mater Health, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
  6. Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
  7. University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia

BACKGROUND

Rheumatologic diseases commonly affect women of childbearing age.(1,2) There is currently limited data available regarding the safety of vaccinations in infants after in utero exposure to biologics.

AIMS

To determine the vaccination decisions of mothers with rheumatologic diseases exposed to biologics during pregnancy and the incidence of serious neonatal infection after third trimester exposure.

METHODS

All Australian women with inflammatory arthritis, exposed to biologics during the preconception, antenatal and / or postpartum periods, were invited to participate in the Pregnancy Exposed to Biological (PEB) study from May 2009 – May 2018. Recruitment was via direct invitation from patients treating rheumatologists, community groups, and via social media. Following self-referral to the study, retrospective data was collected, including biological exposure, vaccination history and the incidence of serious neonatal infections, defined as infection requiring hospitalisation.

RESULTS

Preliminary data is available regarding 35 offspring from 28 mothers. All 35 offspring were vaccinated, however, one infant did not commence the vaccination schedule until age 2, due to maternal preference. 27 received vaccinations in accordance with the Australian National Immunisation Program Schedule.

13 infants were exposed to a tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) or targeted synthetic inhibitor (tsDMARD) during the third trimester. Of these, 4 had Rotavirus vaccine delayed from 2 to 4 months and 1 infant until 6 months. 1 infant did not receive the Rotavirus vaccine at 2 months due to exposure to a TNFi while breastfeeding. There were no incidences of serious neonatal infections.

CONCLUSIONS

Current guidelines recommend deferring live vaccines, such as rotavirus, until after 6 months if exposed to a biologic in the third trimester.(2-5) Compliance with these recommendations were only observed in one infant in our study. One infant received delayed Rotavirus vaccination due to concern about TNFi exposure during breastfeeding; this is not in keeping with current guidelines. Of the 12 infants exposed to a biologic during the third trimester who did not delay live vaccination until after 6 months, there were no incidents of serious neonatal infections, in keeping with the findings of current published case series.

  1. Brouwer J, Hazes JM, Laven JS, Dolhain RJ. Fertility in women with rheumatoid arthritis: influence of disease activity and medication. Ann Rheum Dis. 2015;74(10):1836-41.
  2. Gotestam Skorpen C, Hoeltzenbein M, Tincani A, Fischer-Betz R, Elefant E, Chambers C, et al. The EULAR points to consider for use of antirheumatic drugs before pregnancy, and during pregnancy and lactation. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016;75(5):795-810.
  3. Flint J, Panchal S, Hurrell A, van de Venne M, Gayed M, Schreiber K, et al. BSR and BHPR guideline on prescribing drugs in pregnancy and breastfeeding-Part I: standard and biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and corticosteroids. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2016;55(9):1693-7.
  4. Australian Government Department of Health. The Australian Immunisation Handbook. 3.3 Groups with special vaccination requirements [Internet]. 2017 [updated Aug 2017; cited 2018 May 15]. Available from: http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/Handbook10-home~handbook10part3~handbook10-3-3#3-3-2
  5. Australian Rheumatology Association. Notes on prescribing medications for rheumatic diseases in pregnancy [Internet]. 2011 [updated Aug 2017; cited 2018 May 15]. Available from: https://rheumatology.org.au/gps/documents/ARAPregnancyPrescribingnotes29Aug17_000.pdf