CCoPE
Date: 2001-12-14

Question:
My name is Dr. Judy Arnon, and I work in the Israeli Teratogen Information Service. We are now working on recommendations to the Israeli Ministry of Health concerning which women will be offered amniocentesis due to increased risk. One of the groups that are offered amniocentiesis (covered by the HMOs) are women (or their partners) that are exposed to methotrexate, azathioprine, mercaptopurine and cyclophosphamide prior to pregnancy. We are now reviewing this policy, and wanted to know if I could have information from your registry concerning exposure to these drugs and pregnancy outcome (especially in regard to chrosomal aberrations in the offspring). We are interested in both maternal and paternal exposure. Do you advise women (or their partners)who were exposed to these drugs 3-6 months prior to conception to do an amniocentesis? Thanking you in advance, Judy Arnon Ph.D., Israel Teratogen Information Service

Answer:
Offspring of patients, both male and female, treated with methotrexate, azathioprine, mercaptopurine and cyclophosphamide prior to pregnancy have not been found to have an increased risk of fetal malformation, over and above the baseline risk. As well, there is presently no evidence of increased chromosomal breakage in women or men taking these drugs.