Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Eculizumab? Is Eculizumab safe for nursing mother and child? Does Eculizumab extracts into breast milk? Does Eculizumab has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Eculizumab influence milk supply or can Eculizumab decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Answer by DrLact: About Eculizumab usage in lactation

Maternal dosages of eculizumab usually produce undetectable levels in breastmilk. Because eculizumab is a large protein molecule with a molecular weight of about 148,000, absorption is unlikely because it is probably destroyed in the infant's gastrointestinal tract. No adverse effects attributable to eculizumab have been reported in infants who were breastfed during maternal therapy.

Eculizumab Side Effects in Breastfeeding

Two women began treatment with eculizumab during pregnancy and continued receiving the drug postpartum while breastfeeding their infants. One infant had no complications up to 30 weeks of follow-up. The other infant developed neutropenia up to 12 weeks of age, but it was not attributed to eculizumab.[1] A group of authors associated with the manufacturer of the drug reported that 25 patients had breastfed while taking eculizumab for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Infant outcomes were not stated.[3] One center reported a cohort of 14 women who received eculizumab for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria during pregnancy. Ten of the infants were breastfed (extent not stated) with no reported complications.[6][7] A mother with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria became pregnant while on eculizumab and continued the drug during pregnancy and lactation. During the third trimester and immediately postpartum she was receiving 1200 mg weekly; one moth postpartum, her dosage was decreased to 900 mg every 2 weeks. She continued to breastfeed her baby (amount not stated). At 3 months of age, the infant was developing normally.[8]
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