Gastroenterology  1990 Aug;99(2):443-6 

Safety of azathioprine in pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease.

Alstead EM, Ritchie JK, Lennard-Jones JE, Farthing MJ, Clark ML.

Department of Gastroenterology, St. Bartholomew's, Hospital, London, England.

Although azathioprine has been reported to be safe during pregnancy in renal

transplant recipients and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, opinions

vary whether it should be continued in pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease.

A retrospective analysis of the outcome of 16 pregnancies in 14 women receiving

azathioprine for inflammatory bowel disease was performed. There was one

infective complication of pregnancy (hepatitis B virus infection), but there

were no congenital abnormalities or subsequent health problems in the children.

This preliminary study suggests that azathioprine is safe in pregnancy in

inflammatory bowel disease patients and that termination of pregnancy is not

mandatory for those who conceive while taking the drug.