A national study of women
with IBD and their children.

PIANO shares results with participants in real-time. This results page will provide general information on participants, including number of people on particular medications during pregnancy, type of IBD and data from PIANO publications. Questions? Contact us at piano@ucsf.edu.


Participant Demographics


IBD Diagnosis


Average age at Intake35.5

Average total pregnancies2.1

J Pouch46 (2%)

Stoma/Ostomy112 (5%)

Medications



Results of the PIANO Registry


2219 pregnant women with IBD were enrolled and had 1702 live births.
  • 549 were not on immunomodulators, small molecules or biologics
  • 586 were on immunomodulators
  • 1380 were on biologics
  • 300 were on both immunomodulators and biologics
  • 10 were on small molecules
There was no increase in birth defects, miscarriages, preterm birth, low birth weight or infant infections based on what medication mother took during pregnancy. There was no reduction in brain development (developmental milestones) based on maternal IBD Medication use.

Active disease during pregnancy was more common in ulcerative colitis and lead to increased miscarriage.




598 IBD mothers in PIANO were exposed
to steroids during pregnancy.


Compared to unexposed mothers, those on steroids had higher rates of preterm birth, low birth weight infants and infants being admitted to the Neonatal ICU.

There was no increase in birth defects, brain deficits or infant infection based on steroid use.

Steroid use may be a marker of active disease which is the real driver of these outcomes.




Biologics can cross the placenta and are detected in the infant for 1-6 months after birth.







Levels of biologics detected in breast milk are low
and do not adversely affect infant outcomes.


While biologics can be detected in breastmilk at very minute amounts, there was no association with infection or development. Women with IBD can breastfeed while on biologic therapy if they wish.






There is no increase in infants infections at 4 months
or 12 months if they were exposed to a biologic or
thiopurine (or both) during pregnancy




Infant response to vaccines (Haemophilus influenza B
and Tetanus Toxoid) was not affected by IBD
medication exposure during pregnancy




Infant developmental milestones, as measured by the
Ages and Stages Questionnaire, was as good as or
better than the national average, regardless of IBD
medication exposure in pregnancy




Infants of mothers with IBD who go to daycare are
not more likely to get infections than other children
based on medication exposure during pregnancy.



  Email: piano@ucsf.edu     Phone: 415-885-3734     Twitter: @PIANOIBD