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Transfer of interferon beta in term placentae
Eleanor Doman1, Angelos Evangelinos1, Lewis Renshall1
1Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre and Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, UK.
Objective:
An increased risk of relapse is seen postpartum in women with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting treatment with disease modifying therapy may be considered during pregnancy. Cohort studies on the safety of interferon beta (IFN-β) during pregnancy are skewed towards early pregnancy. Here we use laboratory tests to study the transfer of IFN-β in the term placenta.
Methods:
Using term placental tissue (n=3) we conducted ex vivo dual placental perfusions over 6 hours, adding IFN-β to the maternal circulation and sampling the fetal circulation to determine its transfer.
Results:
Minimal transfer between the maternal and fetal circulation was observed with the maximum transfer across all three experiments <0.03% of the maximum maternal concentration.
Discussion:
This study provides additional evidence to support the consideration of use of IFN-β based MS medications in pregnancy. The minimal transfer in the term placenta provides reassurance to people with MS and medical professionals considering the use of medication during the third trimester.
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