8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with beclomethasone dipropionate HFA inhalation aerosol or beclomethasone dipropionate in pregnant women. There are clinical considerations with the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), including beclomethasone dipropionate, in pregnant women [see Clinical Considerations ] . Also, no published studies, including studies of large birth registries, have to date related the use of ICS to any increases in congenital malformations or other adverse perinatal outcomes.
Thus, available human data do not establish the presence or absence of drug-associated risk to the fetus. In animal reproduction studies, beclomethasone dipropionate resulted in adverse developmental effects in mice and rabbits at subcutaneous doses equal to or greater than approximately 0.75 times the maximum recommended human daily inhalation dose (MRHDID) in adults (0.64 mg/day) [see Data ] . In rats exposed to beclomethasone dipropionate by inhalation, dose-related gross injury to the fetal adrenal glands was observed at doses greater than 180 times the MRHDID, but there was no evidence of external or skeletal malformations or embryolethality at inhalation doses up to 440 times the MRHDID.
The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population(s) are unknown. In the US general population, the estimated risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryofetal Risk The risk of complications to the mother and developing fetus from inadequate control of asthma must be balanced against the risks from exposure to beclomethasone dipropionate.
In women with poorly or moderately controlled asthma, evidence demonstrates that there is an increased risk of preeclampsia in the mother and prematurity, low birth weight and small for gestational age for the neonate. The level of asthma control should be closely monitored in pregnant women and treatment adjusted as necessary to maintain optimal control. Labor or Delivery There are no specific human data regarding any adverse effects of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate on labor and delivery.
Data Animal Data In an embryofetal development study in pregnant rats, beclomethasone dipropionate administration during organogenesis from gestation days 6 to 15 at inhaled doses 180 times the MRHDID in adults and higher (on a mg/m 2 basis at maternal doses of 11.5 and 28.3 mg/kg/day) produced dose-dependent gross injury (characterized by red foci) of the adrenal glands in fetuses. There were no findings in the adrenal glands of rat fetuses at an inhaled dose that was 40 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at a maternal dose of 2.4 mg/kg/day).
There was no evidence of external or skeletal malformations or embryolethality in rats at inhaled doses up to 440 times the MRHDID (on a mg/m 2 basis at maternal doses up to 28.3 mg/kg/day). In an embryofetal development study in pregnant mice, beclomethasone dipropionate administration from gestation days 1 to 18 at subcutaneous doses equal to and greater than 0.75 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at maternal doses of 0.1 mg/kg/day and higher) produced adverse developmental effects (increased incidence of cleft palate).
A no-effect dose in mice was not identified. In a second embryofetal development study in pregnant mice, beclomethasone dipropionate administration from gestation days 1 to 13 at subcutaneous doses equal to and greater than 2.3 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at a maternal dose of 0.3 mg/kg/day) produced embryolethal effects (increased fetal resorptions) and decreased pup survival. In an embryofetal development study in pregnant rabbits, beclomethasone dipropionate administration during organogenesis from gestation days 7 to 16 at subcutaneous doses equal to and greater than 0.75 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at maternal doses of 0.025 mg/kg/day and higher) produced external and skeletal malformations and embryolethal effects (increased fetal resorptions).
There were no effects in fetuses of pregnant rabbits administered a subcutaneous dose 0.2 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at a maternal dose of 0.006 mg/kg/day).