ustekinumab
Ustekinumab injection is used to treat: plaque psoriasis (skin disease in which red, scaly patches form on some areas of the body) psoriatic arthritis (a condition that causes joint pain and swelling and scales on the skin) Crohn's disease (a condition in which the body attacks the lining of the digestive tract, causing pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fever) ulcerative colitis (a condition which causes swelling and sores in the lining of the colon [large intestine] and rectum) Ustekinumab injection is in a class of medications called interleukin antagonists. It works by stopping the action of interleukin, a substance in the body that causes inflammation.
Full drug information on MedlinePlus →This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy and breastfeeding decisions should always be made with your healthcare provider.
Can taking ustekinumab affect fertility or make it harder to get pregnant?
According to the MotherToBaby fact sheet, studies have not been done to see whether taking ustekinumab can make it harder for a person to get pregnant. A small study of 12 men exposed to ustekinumab reported no effect on fertility, but data are limited. Anyone with questions about fertility and ustekinumab should discuss them with their healthcare provider.
Does taking ustekinumab increase the risk of miscarriage?
Miscarriage can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. The MotherToBaby fact sheet notes that studies of over 3,000 pregnancies did not find an increased chance of miscarriage when ustekinumab was used during pregnancy. Individual circumstances should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
Does taking ustekinumab increase the risk of birth defects?
Birth defects occur in about 3 out of 100 babies overall, regardless of exposures. According to the fact sheet, studies of over 2,500 pregnancies found no increased chance of birth defects when ustekinumab was used during pregnancy. Decisions about using ustekinumab in pregnancy should be made together with a healthcare provider.
Can taking ustekinumab during pregnancy cause other pregnancy-related complications?
The MotherToBaby fact sheet reports that studies of over 2,000 pregnancies found no increased chance of pregnancy-related problems such as preterm delivery (birth before week 37) or low birth weight (less than about 2,500 grams) when ustekinumab was used during pregnancy. Any specific concerns should be reviewed with a healthcare provider. There is also a theoretical concern about the baby's immune system that may affect timing of live vaccines in the first year, which the fact sheet suggests discussing with the child's healthcare provider.
Can taking ustekinumab during pregnancy affect the child's brain development, learning, or behavior?
The fact sheet describes four studies that included 122 children exposed to ustekinumab during pregnancy, which showed no increased chance of behavior or learning issues at around 12 months of age. Longer-term data are limited. Any questions about a child's development should be discussed with their healthcare provider.
Is it safe to breastfeed while taking ustekinumab?
The MotherToBaby fact sheet notes that ustekinumab has not been well studied during breastfeeding. Because it is a very large protein, very little is thought to pass into breast milk, and any that does is unlikely to be well absorbed through the baby's gastrointestinal tract. Breastfeeding questions should be discussed with a healthcare provider to consider individual circumstances.
Source: National Library of Medicine
ustekinumab