Is breastfeeding safe with azathioprine?

Background: Azathioprine is commonly used as an immunosuppressant during pregnancy in the management of various conditions such as connective tissue disorders, inflammatory bowel disease and pregnant women with organ transplant. Continuation of azathioprine through pregnancy and postpartum is vital for maternal reasons. However, there is limited evidence regarding safety of use of azathioprine with breastfeeding.

Successful pregnancy outcome following maternal intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in a woman with recurrent perinatal haemochromatosis.

Objective: We report a case of successful pregnancy outcome following maternal intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in a woman with previous history of recurrent fetal hydrops secondary to perinatal haemochromatosis.

Methods: A 32-year old woman had two successive pregnancies complicated by fetal hydrops and perinatal deaths. Pathological examination of the fetus showed severe liver destruction with siderosis of hepatocytes at extrahepatic sites, but sparing of the reticulo-endothelial elements, consistent with the diagnosis of perinatal haemochromatosis.

Population-based study of the outcome following the prenatal diagnosis of cystic hygroma.

Objective: To identify the population prevalence, pregnancy outcome, and the pattern of associated anomalies with a prenatal diagnosis of cystic hygroma.

Design: We analysed the pregnancy outcomes from 99 cases of prenatally diagnosed cystic hygroma reported to the Trent Congenital Anomalies Register from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1999, by means of an outcome reporting form completed by the notifying centre.

Results: We identified a population prevalence of 1 in 1775 livebirths for prenatally diagnosed cystic hygroma.

Longitudinal quantification of uterine artery blood volume flow changes during gestation in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction.

Objective: To quantify and compare longitudinal uterine artery volume flow changes in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) pregnancies and those complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Design: Serial longitudinal study.

Setting: Large UK Teaching Hospital Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department and Institute of Anatomy, RWTH Aachen, Germany.