MDTV on Pregnancy and Rheumatoid Arthritis Dr. Cush: Treatment and Pregnancy Good Control over RA Leads to Best Pregnancy Outcomes
If a Rheumatoid Arthritis patient has good control over her RA, then the best pregnancy outcomes will be seen. There’s a safety element involved there regarding the safety of that drug in the pregnant women versus the safety of uncontrolled inflammation in that pregnant woman. John J. Cush, MD, Director of Clinical Rheumatology at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, explains more on this MDTV Learning Module (5).
By MDTV
According to John J. Cush, MD, Director of Clinical Rheumatology at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, if a Rheumatoid Arthritis patient has good control over her RA, then that's when the best pregnancy outcomes will be seen. This may mean encouraging a patient to delay pregnancy until the disease is under better control. In addition, treating RA in a pregnancy woman can be a difficult balancing act between the safety of that drug in the pregnant women versus the safety of uncontrolled inflammation in that pregnant woman. Patients and rheumatologists need to have an open discusion about treatment options before, during, and after pregnancy to ensure the health and safety of both mother and child.
