Research
Arthritis Research Canada’s scientists were the first to show that taking biologics during pregnancy, by a woman with arthritis, does not lead to complications like premature babies, low birth weigh, birth defects or infections in moms and infants.
“We’ve entered an exciting era in arthritis treatment,” said. Dr. Mary De Vera, a senior scientist at Arthritis Research Canada. “But with that excitement, there are more questions.”
De Vera’s team is working to understand the long-term safety of biologics, as well as the safety of biosimilar use during pregnancy.
Expand the menus below and click the links to learn more about arthritis and pregnancy research at Arthritis Research Canada.
Pregnancy, Medication Safety and Parenting Research
- Impact of Arthritis Medications on the Mother and Child During Pregnancy and Beyond
- Will Using Your Arthritis Medications During Pregnancy Cause You or Your Baby to Have More Infections?
- Pregnancy Complications and New-Onset Maternal Autoimmune Disease
- Perinatal Use and Discontinuation of Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs: Outcomes of Patients Seen at a Pregnancy and Rheumatic Diseases Clinic
- Pre-Pregnancy Planning for Female Patients Seen at a Pregnancy and Rheumatic Diseases Clinic: A Retrospective Analysis of Patients with Rheumatic Diseases Seeking Pregnancy-Related Care
- Leflunomide Exposure Through Second Trimester of Pregnancy: A Case Report
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Incident Arthritis in Midlife: An Exploratory Longitudinal Analysis of the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation
- “The Medications are the Decision-Makers…” Making Reproductive and Medication Use Decisions Among Female Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Constructivist Grounded Theory
- Partners of Female Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Reproductive Decision-Making: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study
- “Walking Into the Unknown…” Key Challenges of Pregnancy and Early Parenting with Inflammatory Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies
- Perinatal use and Discontinuation of Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs and Biologics in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cohort Study
- Perinatal Exposure to Conventional Synthetic Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs in Women with Rheumatic Disease and Neonatal Outcomes: A Population-Based Study
- Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes Associated with Biologic Exposure Before and During Pregnancy in Women with Inflammatory Systemic Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies
- Management of Inflammatory Arthritis in Pregnancy: A National Cross-Sectional Survey of Canadian Rheumatologists
- Patterns of Medication Use Before, During and After Pregnancy in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Population-Based Cohort Study
- Risk of Congenital Anomalies in Infants Born to Women with Autoimmune Disease Using Biologics Before or During Pregnancy: A Population-Based Cohort Study
- Use of Biologics During Pregnancy and Risk of Serious Infections in the Mother and Baby: A Canadian Population-Based Cohort Study
- Risk of Preterm Delivery and Small-for-Gestational-Age Births in Women with Autoimmune Disease Using Biologics Before or During Pregnancy: A Population-Based Cohort Study
- Patterns of Biologics Utilization and Discontinuation Before and During Pregnancy in Women With Autoimmune Diseases: A Population-Based Cohort Study
- “r/Thritis”, Pregnancy, and Parenting: A Qualitative Descriptive Study of Reddit Forums to Explore Information Needs and Concerns of Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Related Research
- Mental Health in Individuals with Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases During the Transition to Parenthood: A Mixed Methods Study to Identify Associated Factors and Support Needs
- Risk Stratification and Personalized Therapy in Lupus Pregnancies
- Shared Decision Making in Pregnancy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Design of a Patient Orientated Decision Aid
Research Scientists
Dr. Neda Amiri, BSc, MD, MHSC, FRCPC
Rheumatologist & Clinician Investigator, Arthritis Research Canada
Dr. Neda Amiri is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, at the University of British Columbia, and a Clinician Investigator with Arthritis Research Canada. Her research interests include pregnancy outcomes in patients with rheumatic diseases, and supporting positive pregnancy outcomes in this population.
Dr. Amiri started the Pregnancy and Rheumatic Diseases Clinic at the Mary Pack Arthritis Centre in 2017. This clinic is the first of its kind in British Columbia and assists patients with rheumatic diseases who are seeking counseling regarding conception, and follows their care in pregnancy.
Dr. Mary De Vera, MSc, PhD
Senior Scientist, Pharmacoepidemiology, & Associate Director of Training, Arthritis Research Canada
Dr. Mary De Vera is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia and a Senior Scientist at Arthritis Research Canada. Her research interests include medication adherence and pregnancy in rheumatic diseases.
The overarching objective of Dr. De Vera’s research is to support and inform patient journeys in living with, and managing chronic disease. She has a productive research area focusing on two important problems related to medication use – medication adherence and medications in pregnancy, particularly in rheumatology/rheumatic diseases.
