Pregnancy and anti-angiogenic treatments

[Olga]

We now have an information about the case when the patient became pregnant while being under the Sunitinib treatment despite taking the appropriate precautions to prevent the pregnancy. There was a sharp documented disease progression in a first moth of the pregnancy - few new metastatic sizes at once were found. It is unclear if the pregnancy counteracted the Sunitinib she was taking or simply stimulated the disease separately. The pregnancy terminated naturally on the six weeks mark, and there was a stop in progression for awhile. She remained in the Sunitinib trough out all the event with no interruptions.
There are few important implications from this story:

- Sunitinib or other anti-angiogenic treatments probably damage the fetus and it resulted in the miscarriage;
- pregnancy may limit Sunitinib efficacy.

[Bonni Hess]

Dear Olga,
Thank you for sharing this very relevant and frightening information. Obviously it is of special concern to us given Brittany's Cediranib treatment even though we have always been painfully aware that pregnancy must be prevented and is not a possibility for Brittany as long as she is taking Cediranib.
With deepest gratitude for your thoughtful sharing, and with continued Hope,
Bonni

[D.ap]

We have a case when the patient became pregnant while being under the Sunitinib treatment despite taking the appropriate precautions to prevent the pregnancy. There was a sharp documented disease progression in a first moth of the pregnancy - few new metastatic sizes at once were found. It is unclear if the pregnancy counteracted the Sunitinib she was taking or simply stimulated the disease separately. The pregnancy terminated naturally on the six weeks mark, and there was a stop in progression for awhile. She remained in the Sunitinib trough out all the event with no interruptions.
There are few important implications from this story:

- Sunitinib or other anti-angiogenic treatments probably damage the fetus and it resulted in the miscarriage;
- pregnancy limits Sunitinib efficacy.

My search was why does pregancy cause menstration to stop..

At the risk of thinking out side the box!

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictio ... Amenorrhea

what happens when women become pregnant?
Do antivascuar drugs act in the same manner?

[D.ap]

Amenorrhea
Definition
The absence of menstrual periods is called amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea is the failure to start having a period by the age of 16. Secondary amenorrhea is more common and refers to either the temporary or permanent ending of periods in a woman who has menstruated normally in the past. Many women miss a period occasionally. Amenorrhea occurs if a woman misses three or more periods in a row.
Description
The absence of menstrual periods is a symptom, not a disease. While the average age that menstruation begins is 12, the range varies. The incidence of primary amenorrhea in the United States is just 2.5%.
Some female athletes who participate in rowing, long distance running, and cycling, may notice a few missed periods. Women athletes at a particular risk for developing amenorrhea include ballerinas and gymnasts, who typically exercise strenuously and eat poorly.
Causes and symptoms
Amenorrhea can have many causes. Primary amenorrhea can be the result of hormonal imbalances, psychiatric disorders, eating disorders, malnutrition, excessive thinness or fatness, rapid weight loss, body fat content too low, and excessive physical conditioning. Intense physical training prior to puberty can delay menarche (the onset of menstruation). Every year of training can delay menarche for up to five months. Some medications such as anti-depressants, tranquilizers, steroids, and heroin can induce amenorrhea.
Primary amenorrhea
However, the main cause is a delay in the beginning of puberty either from natural reasons (such as heredity or poor nutrition) or because of a problem in the endocrine system, such as a pituitary tumor or hypothyroidism. An obstructed flow tract or inflammation in the uterus may be the presenting indications of an underlying metabolic, endocrine, congenital or gynecological disorder.
Typical causes of primary amenorrhea include:
excessive physical activity
drastic weight loss (such as occurs in anorexia or bulimia)
extreme obesity
drugs (antidepressants or tranquilizers)
chronic illness
turner's syndrome. (A chromosomal problem in place at birth, relevant only in cases of primary amenorrhea)
the absence of a vagina or a uterus
imperforate hymen (lack of an opening to allow the menstrual blood through)
Secondary amenorrhea
Some of the causes of primary amenorrhea can also cause secondary amenorrhea—strenuous physical activity, excessive weight loss, use of antidepressants or tranquilizers, in particular. In adolescents, pregnancy and stress are two major causes. Missed periods are usually caused in adolescents by stress and changes in environment. Adolescents are especially prone to irregular periods with fevers, weight loss, changes in environment, or increased physical or athletic activity. However, any cessation of periods for four months should be evaluated.
The most common cause of seconardy amenorrhea is pregnancy. Also, a woman's periods may halt temporarily after she stops taking birth control pills. This temporary halt usually lasts only for a month or two, though in some cases it can last for a year or more. Secondary amenorrhea may also be related to hormonal problems related to stress, depression, anorexia nervosa or drugs, or it may be caused by any condition affecting the ovaries, such as a tumor. The cessation of menstruation also occurs permanently after menopause or a hysterectomy.


https://medical-dictionary.thefreedicti ... Amenorrhea