It is a bioinjectable drug called
Remicade, or inflixamab. Also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.  Mothers
taking steroids for treatment of colitis, Crohn's, and RA may not know this
treatment can lead to severe osteoporosis in only a few years (34 year old
friend of a friend broke her back in seven places from falling on a
sidewalk, after 4 years on corticosteroids).

Communication from Tom Hale to another mother: He believes that it is safe
for nurslings because it's too large a protein to get into the breastmilk
(has not been found in samples of breastmilk) and even if it did, would not
be absorbed through the
babies gut.

The drug Remicade/inflixamab is too new to have published
information on its use with breastfeeding mothers. There are no journal
articles on Medline <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed
which provide this specific information, although the mother can access
general information on the drug (search "infliximab and colitis." ) .
Dr. Hale might agree to speak directly to her physician if he feels
confident that this is a safe drug for breastfeeding.

The mother may also wish to know and to share with her doctor that
breastfeeding gives lifetime protection against colitis, with the protective
effect increasing
with the duration of breastfeeding:

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/prevention.html
Can Breastfeeding Prevent Illnesses?
Breastfeeding has been shown to be protective against many illnesses,
... as well as lifetime protection from Crohn's Disease,
ulcerative colitis, some lymphomas, insulin dependent diabetes, and for
girls, breast and ovarian cancer.

Michelle Bentley

----- Original Message -----
Subject: Med question  infliximab. This is a drug that is newly approved for
treatment of
ulcerative colitis. Becky B RNC IBCLC

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