Safety of Drugs in Breastfeeding Women With CKD

Introduction: The benefits of breastfeeding are widely recognized. Because of lack of evidence, women may forego breastfeeding or decline treatments that impact long-term renal survival. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the evidence on the breastfeeding safety of drugs commonly prescribed to wo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Paula Parnizari, Michelle A. Hladunewich, Jonathan Zipursky
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Kidney International Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468024925002633
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849434040134795264
author Paula Parnizari
Michelle A. Hladunewich
Jonathan Zipursky
author_facet Paula Parnizari
Michelle A. Hladunewich
Jonathan Zipursky
author_sort Paula Parnizari
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The benefits of breastfeeding are widely recognized. Because of lack of evidence, women may forego breastfeeding or decline treatments that impact long-term renal survival. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the evidence on the breastfeeding safety of drugs commonly prescribed to women with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: We conducted bibliographic search on available databases, including PUBMED, REPROTOX, and LACTMED. Results: We reviewed a total of 81 observational studies and case reports. Among renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, enalapril and captopril are safe for breastfeeding. Based on limited evidence, quinapril, benazepril, candesartan, and valsartan are likely acceptable for use during breastfeeding. We found no compelling human data regarding the safety of other renin-angiotensin system inhibitors or sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, finerenone, sparsentan, or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs) in lactation. Immunosuppressive agents, including azathioprine, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, budesonide, rituximab, and eculizumab are acceptable for use during breastfeeding. Belimumab is most likely safe; however, data are limited. Data on mycophenolate use are conflicting, and the general recommendation is avoidance during lactation. No studies were found on the safety of breastfeeding while on the newer complement inhibitors, including avacopan, ravulizumab, iptacopan, and pegcetacoplan. These drugs should used with caution in breastfeeding until data become available. Conclusion: Human lactation data on the safety of most drugs used in the treatment of CKD are limited, making evidence-based recommendations challenging. Emerging pharmacometrics techniques can contribute to the safety assessment of drugs in breastfeeding, overcoming ethical and practical issues associated with clinical trials in this population.
format Article
id doaj-art-393c3652e9fc450ea05da4b9813779db
institution Kabale University
issn 2468-0249
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Kidney International Reports
spelling doaj-art-393c3652e9fc450ea05da4b9813779db2025-08-20T03:26:48ZengElsevierKidney International Reports2468-02492025-07-011072189220110.1016/j.ekir.2025.04.038Safety of Drugs in Breastfeeding Women With CKDPaula Parnizari0Michelle A. Hladunewich1Jonathan Zipursky2Centro de Nefrología, Hospital de Clinicas “Manuel Quintela”, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, UruguayDivision of Obstetrical Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Nephrology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Correspondence: Michelle A. Hladunewich, Divisions of Nephrology and Obstetric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 3rd Floor CNIB, Nanji Family Kidney Center, 1929 Bayview Ave., Toronto, Ontario M4G 3E8, Canada.Division of Obstetrical Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaIntroduction: The benefits of breastfeeding are widely recognized. Because of lack of evidence, women may forego breastfeeding or decline treatments that impact long-term renal survival. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the evidence on the breastfeeding safety of drugs commonly prescribed to women with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: We conducted bibliographic search on available databases, including PUBMED, REPROTOX, and LACTMED. Results: We reviewed a total of 81 observational studies and case reports. Among renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, enalapril and captopril are safe for breastfeeding. Based on limited evidence, quinapril, benazepril, candesartan, and valsartan are likely acceptable for use during breastfeeding. We found no compelling human data regarding the safety of other renin-angiotensin system inhibitors or sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, finerenone, sparsentan, or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs) in lactation. Immunosuppressive agents, including azathioprine, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, budesonide, rituximab, and eculizumab are acceptable for use during breastfeeding. Belimumab is most likely safe; however, data are limited. Data on mycophenolate use are conflicting, and the general recommendation is avoidance during lactation. No studies were found on the safety of breastfeeding while on the newer complement inhibitors, including avacopan, ravulizumab, iptacopan, and pegcetacoplan. These drugs should used with caution in breastfeeding until data become available. Conclusion: Human lactation data on the safety of most drugs used in the treatment of CKD are limited, making evidence-based recommendations challenging. Emerging pharmacometrics techniques can contribute to the safety assessment of drugs in breastfeeding, overcoming ethical and practical issues associated with clinical trials in this population.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468024925002633breast milkbreastfeedingchronic kidney diseasedrugs
spellingShingle Paula Parnizari
Michelle A. Hladunewich
Jonathan Zipursky
Safety of Drugs in Breastfeeding Women With CKD
Kidney International Reports
breast milk
breastfeeding
chronic kidney disease
drugs
title Safety of Drugs in Breastfeeding Women With CKD
title_full Safety of Drugs in Breastfeeding Women With CKD
title_fullStr Safety of Drugs in Breastfeeding Women With CKD
title_full_unstemmed Safety of Drugs in Breastfeeding Women With CKD
title_short Safety of Drugs in Breastfeeding Women With CKD
title_sort safety of drugs in breastfeeding women with ckd
topic breast milk
breastfeeding
chronic kidney disease
drugs
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468024925002633
work_keys_str_mv AT paulaparnizari safetyofdrugsinbreastfeedingwomenwithckd
AT michelleahladunewich safetyofdrugsinbreastfeedingwomenwithckd
AT jonathanzipursky safetyofdrugsinbreastfeedingwomenwithckd