Highlights
Washington, DC (January 24, 2013) — Women taking the immunosuppressant tacrolimus can rest assured that breast feeding will not elevate their babies' exposure to the drug, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology ( CJASN ). The findings are good news for young women who have received an organ transplant in the past or who are taking the drug for other reasons.
Women taking the tacrolimus have previously been advised not to breast feed due to the possibility that the drug might be transferred to the baby, which could potentially suppress the baby's developing immune system. While there are many benefits to breast-feeding, there is very little known about the safety of breast-feeding while taking tacrolimus.
Kate Bramham, MRCP (King's College London) and her colleagues looked to determine the extent to which tacrolimus is transferred to infants via breast milk. Fourteen women taking tacrolimus during pregnancy and lactation, and their 15 infants (11 of whom were exclusively breast-fed) were assessed.
Among the major findings:
"Our study shows that levels of the drug are not significantly increased through breast feeding. Although more studies are needed on the safety of tacrolimus, the findings would suggest that women who wish to breastfeed should not be discouraged from doing so," said Dr. Bramham. "The advantages, particularly in preterm infants, need to be weighed against the theoretical disadvantages of minimal ingestion through breast milk," she added. Of note, women who have received a kidney transplant in the past are more likely to have early deliveries.
Study co-authors include Gary Chusney, Janet Lee PhD, Liz Lightstone, PhD, FRCP, and Catherine Nelson-Piercy, FRCP, FRCOG.
Disclosures: The authors reported no financial disclosures.
The article, entitled "Breast-feeding and Tacrolimus: Serial Monitoring in Breast and Bottlefed Infants," will appear online at http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/ on January 24, 2013, doi: 10.2215/CJN.06400612.
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Founded in 1966, and with more than 13,500 members, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) leads the fight against kidney disease by educating health professionals, sharing new knowledge, advancing research, and advocating the highest quality care for patients.
Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology