Interferon-alpha therapy during pregnancy in chronic myelogenous leukaemia and hairy cell leukaemia

Interferon-alpha is an effective agent in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukaemia and hairy cell leukaemia. Because interferon-alpha does not inhibit DNA synthesis, we have used it to treat these diseases during pregnancy. We report here two patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia and two patients with hairy cell leukaemia managed with interferon-alpha during pregnancy. Interferon-alpha was well tolerated, and the pregnancies proceeded without complications. All four infants were apparently normal at birth, and all four have enjoyed normal growth and development. Interferon-alpha may represent relatively safe therapy during pregnancy, because of its lack of inhibition of DNA synthesis. Nevertheless, recommendations regarding the use of interferon-alpha to treat chronic leukaemias during pregnancy must await further experience with this agent in this setting.