Background: There are currently no data regarding the transfer of candesartan into human milk. This report provides data on this transfer, an estimation of the amount breastfed infants receive, and plasma concentrations from two breastfed infants.
Cases: Three breastfeeding mothers, all stabilized on candesartan (8-32 mg/d), provided milk and plasma samples over one dosing interval (24 hours). Two infant plasma samples were obtained. The amount the infants ingested was estimated to be 0.09% (95% CI 0.07-0.11) of the maternal dose (weight-adjusted). Candesartan was undetectable (less than 0.2 micrograms/L) in infant plasma samples.
Conclusion: A relative infant dose of 0.09% suggests that maternal benefit from candesartan at standard therapeutic doses may outweigh risk in breastfeeding healthy, term infants.