Rituximab Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings

Rituximab is also known as: Rituxan

Rituximab Pregnancy Warnings

The manufacturer has recommended that individuals of childbearing potential use effective contraceptive methods during treatments and for up to 12 months following therapy with rituximab. There has been a case reported of a pregnant woman who used rituximab in combination with CHOP chemotherapy for aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She delivered a healthy girl via caesarean section in the thirty-fifth week of her pregnancy. Postmarketing data indicate that B-cell lymphocytopenia generally lasting less than six months can occur in infants exposed to rituximab in utero. Rituximab has been detected postnatally in the serum of infants exposed in utero.

Rituximab has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have not been conducted. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. There are no data on whether rituximab can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or whether it can affect reproductive capacity. Because human IgG is known to pass the placental barrier, and therefore may potentially cause fetal B-cell depletion, rituximab is only recommended for use in pregnant women when the drug is clearly needed.

Rituximab Breastfeeding Warnings

Use of rituximab is not recommended. Excreted into human milk: Unknown Excreted into animal milk: Unknown The effects in the nursing infant are unknown.

Because human IgG is excreted into human milk and the potential for absorption and immunosuppression in the infant are unknown, breast-feeding is not recommended until circulating drug levels are no longer detectable.

See Also...

• Rituximab use while Breastfeeding (in more detail)
• rituximab Consumer Information
• Pregnancy Support Group
• FDA Pregnancy Categories
• Medicine use during Pregnancy
• Medicine use while Breastfeeding
• Safe Medications during Breastfeeding

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