Sulphasalazine and Sulphapyridine Serum Levels in Children to Mothers Treated with Sulphasalazine during Pregnancy and Lactation

Abstract

Serum concentrations of sulphasalazine and sulphapyridine were measured during the first week of life in 15 children whose mothers had been on sulphasalazine during pregnancy. The serum concentrations of sulphapyridine and sulphasalazine were similar in the children and their mothers at delivery. The elimination rate of the drugs in the newborn children was slow but the concentrations were not so high that a bilirubin displacing effect could be expected. In eight mothers who were breast-feeding and taking sulphasalazine, analyses were done of mothers' serum, breast-milk and serum from their children. The results showed that the amount of sulphasalazine and sulphapyridine transferred to the child via the breast-milk is negligible with regard to the risk of kernicterus. It is concluded that a woman in need of sulphasalazine treatment can continue the medication throughout pregnancy and lactation without risk of development of kernicterus in her child. Only term infants without haemolytic disease were included in the study. Thus our conclusion is not necessarily valid for the prematurely born child or the child with haemolytic disease.

Management of Pregnant Lupus

“…In eight mothers who were breastfeeding and taking sulfasalazine, analyses were done from mothers' serum, breast milk and serum from their children. The results showed that the amount of sulfasalazine and sulfa pyridine transferred to the child in the breast milk is negligible with regards to the risk of kernicterus [Eshjorner, 1987].…”

Safety of drugs used in cases with ulcerative colitis during pregnancy and lactation

“…However, in a large scale series conducted among 181 pregnant women, there was no increase in the risk of having a baby with congenital anomaly (8). On the other hand, due to the potential anti-folate effect of sulfasalazine, ingestion of 2 mg folate in the prenatal period and during pregnancy is recommended (9).…”

“…It is recommended that breast-feeding mothers using 5-ASA should follow their children's bowel habits more carefully. Similarly, sulfasalazine is a safe drug in breast-feeding women (61,62).…”

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pregnancy

“…У 8 грудных младенцев СУЛЬФ отсутство-Международные и российские рекомендации по лечению ревматических заболеваний [72]. В другом исследовании определяли содержание метаболитов лекарства в грудном молоке у женщин, получавших более 2 мес 2 г/сут СУЛЬФ [73].…”