NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF. – Psoriasis often clears in pregnant women, giving them a rare break from the skin disease. But
Bruce Jancin/Frontline Medical News
Dr. Jashin J. Wu
Data from 2011 found 45% of pregnancies in U.S. women aged 15-44 years were unintended (N Engl J Med. 2016 Mar 3;374[9]:843-52), cautioned Jashin J. Wu, MD, of Dermatology Research and Education Foundation, Irvine, Calif.
In a presentation at the Skin Disease Education Foundation’s Women’s & Pediatric Dermatology Seminar, Dr. Wu offered these tips about pregnancy and psoriasis:
Counsel patients before pregnancy
There’s conflicting data about the risks of psoriasis in pregnancy, Dr. Wu said. One 23-year-old study suggests a link to adverse outcomes such as preterm and low-birth-weight babies. But another more recent study found no sign of increased risk (Int J Dermatol. 1996;35:169-72; J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011;64:71-7).
Counseling can include information about risks such as hospitalization during pregnancy because of undertreatment of psoriasis, he said. Discuss lowering medication doses to the lowest effective dose, he recommended, and talk about alternatives to systemic medications.
Make adjustments to timing as needed
In patients with severe cases, it may be appropriate to recommend that they postpone pregnancy until their psoriasis is under better control. As for treatment of psoriasis, “you may want to consider timing medication to end around the first trimester to get the medication out of them during the greatest risk period for the baby,” Dr. Wu said.
Adjust steroids as necessary
There are no “good” studies about the use of steroids in pregnant women with psoriasis, Dr. Wu said. “We can probably assume they are safe overall. Weaker steroids may have less risk,” and some of the stronger steroids may raise concerns.
Dr. Wu made these recommendations: Limit mild-potency topical corticosteroids to less than 100 g/week, potent topical corticosteroids to less than 50 g/week, and superpotent topical corticosteroids to less than 30 g/week.
Some topical drugs appear to be OK
Vitamin D analogues have not been well-studied in pregnancy, he said, but “we consider topical use to be fairly safe.”
There’s no data on calcineurin inhibitors in pregnancy, he said, but topical use is considered to be safe because there’s limited systemic absorption.
Beware of certain drugs in pregnancyTazarotene is considered to be dangerous in pregnancy, Dr. Wu said, and females of childbearing age who take it should use effective contraception, and have a recent negative pregnancy test (within 2 weeks before treatment begins). “In general, I’d probably not use this,” he said. “We have so many other options.”
Data about pregnancy safety for three topical drugs – coal tar, anthralin, and salicylic acid – is limited or nonexistent, Dr. Wu said, and he recommends against their use in pregnancy.
Phototherapy is OK in pregnancy
Phototherapy is considered safe because UVB doesn’t penetrate the superficial layer of the skin, he said. But phototherapy brings a potential risk of lowered folic acid levels, and he urges folic acid supplementation in women undergoing the treatment who are considering pregnancy or who are in the first trimester.
Avoid certain systemic drugs
Dr. Wu offered these recommendations: