Is Peginterferon Alfa safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Peginterferon Alfa. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
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.[ 11 ] Two infants were reported whose mothers were receiving peginterferon-alpha for chronic myeloid leukemia. One breastfed safely for 2 months and the other for 4 months.[ 12 ]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
No information is available specifically on peginterferon alfa. However, data are available on non-pegylated interferon alfa. 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 ] Two patients, one from the United States and one from Taiwan, were receiving ropeginterferon alfa-2b during pregnancy and postpartum for essential thrombocytopenia. The one from the US was receiving 100 mcg every 2 weeks, with the last dose 3 days before delivery. Four breastmilk samples had no detectable ( 0.1 mcg/L) levels of ropeginterferon alfa-2b. The woman from Taiwan was receiving 500 mcg every 2 weeks, with the last dose 3 days before delivery. Four milk samples contained no quantifiable ropeginterferon alfa-2b ( 5 ng/L), but a colostrum sample had a slight signal.[ 10 ] Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Alternatives LactMed lists
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.