Cure8 research brief
Why This Matters
People with IBD often need biologic therapy during their reproductive years. This review compiles comparative evidence about pregnancy risks with different biologics to inform decisions about continuing or switching therapies during pregnancy.
Findings reinforce existing safety data for anti-TNF drugs but raise exploratory signals for ustekinumab and vedolizumab that need cautious interpretation.
Who Should Pay Attention
Pregnant people with IBD or those planning pregnancy, gastroenterologists, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, and clinicians counseling patients about IBD medication safety in pregnancy.
Study Snapshot
What To Know
This review summarizes available comparative observational studies rather than randomized trials and uses network meta-analysis methods.
The authors describe stronger and more consistent safety evidence for anti-TNF drugs in pregnancy; findings for newer agents (ustekinumab, vedolizumab) are presented as exploratory and may be affected by residual confounding.
Clinical interpretation should consider disease activity, study designs, and that observational data can be biased by differences in who receives each drug. No treatment advice is provided here; discuss individual pregnancy planning and treatment choices with your gastroenterology and obstetric care teams.
Keep In Mind
This is an NMA of observational studies (not randomized trials) up to March 2025; residual confounding and differences in disease activity between treatment groups can affect results. The authors emphasize that signals for ustekinumab and vedolizumab are exploratory and not consistent across sensitivity and subgroup analyses.
Discuss individual risks and benefits with clinicians.
Source Details
Review the original publication for the complete reporting, methods, and context.
This Cure8 brief is based on source text from the linked article. Cure8 is informational only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.