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VIDEO: US rheumatologists more likely to prescribe TNF inhibitors before, during pregnancy
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AMSTERDAM — Rheumatologists in the United States were more inclined to prescribe TNF inhibitors for women of childbearing age with chronic rheumatic diseases before and during pregnancy than their European counterparts, according to survey data presented at the EULAR Annual Congress.
Additionally, survey results demonstrated that European rheumatologists were more likely to recommend discontinuation of TNF inhibitors before conception than U.S.-based health care professionals.
“Our study highlighted that there are differences between rheumatologists in the U.S. and in Europe,” Rebecca Fischer-Betz, MD, from the Hiller Research Unit at the University Hospital of Düsseldorf in Germany, told Healio Rheumatology. “It seems that physicians in the U.S. are more confident to treat women of childbearing age before and during pregnancy with TNF inhibitors compared to rheumatologists in Europe.”
“On the other hand, rheumatologists from Europe seem to be more concerned about side effects of TNF inhibitors during pregnancy,” Fischer-Betz noted. “Our survey shows that there is a need for better education of health care providers on the appropriate use of TNF inhibitors in women of childbearing age.”