[Pregnancy and lactation in rheumatoid arthritis]

Previously, female RA patients wishing to become pregnant were treated with only glucocorticoid, NSAIDs and sulfasalazine. However, these limited therapy sometimes fail to sustain RA remission, though pregnancy in most cases is associated with improving RA activity. High RA activity and relative high dose of glucocorticoid also involved poor fertility. Recently, a variety of medications are available to treat patients with RA. This article reviewed the safety or not safety of these medications during prior to conception, pregnancy and post-partum period. Accumulating experience with TNF blockade provide the useful insights for the treatment of RA patients during pre-conception, pregnancy or lactation.