Is Interferon Alfa safe while breastfeeding?

Effects on the breastfed infant

One infant was born to a mother who received 3 million units of interferon alfa-2a subcutaneously 3 times weekly during pregnancy and postpartum for essential thrombocytopenia. Her infant was breastfed for 2 weeks postpartum before bilateral mastitis caused the mother to terminate nursing. The infant reportedly thrived, although specific measures were not mentioned.[ 10 ] A preliminary report from a registry of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in Italy found 3 women treated with interferon (presumably interferon alfa-2b) at the time of delivery who breastfed for about a month and another breastfed for 9 months while continuing interferon therapy. The infants in the study developed within population standards.[ 11 ]

Effects on milk supply

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Levels in milk

Maternal Levels . Two mothers taking interferon alfa had milk levels measured. One mother taking 8 million units three times a week had a milk level of 1400 units/L and another taking 8 million units daily had a milk level of 6000 units/L. Both levels were apparently measured immediately postpartum (in colostrum), but the time since the previous dose was not stated.[ 8 ] An intravenous dose of 30 million units of interferon alfa-2B in one woman resulted in a peak milk level of 1551 International Units/L which was a slight increase over two baseline levels prior to the dose which averaged 1072 International Units/L. By 12 hours after the dose, milk interferon levels were lower than baseline.[ 9 ] Infant Levels . Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Alternatives LactMed lists

• Peginterferon Alfa
• Sofosbuvir