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Woodbury ML, Cintora P, Ng S, Hadley PA, Schantz SL. Examining the relationship of acetaminophen use during pregnancy with early language development in children. Pediatr Res 2024; 95:1883-1896. [PMID: 38081897 PMCID: PMC11164826 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02924-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acetaminophen is the only analgesic considered safe for use throughout pregnancy. Recent studies suggest that use during pregnancy may be associated with poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes in children, but few have examined language development. METHODS The Illinois Kids Development Study is a prospective birth cohort in east-central Illinois. Between December 2013 and March 2020, 532 newborns were enrolled and had exposure data available. Participants reported the number of times they took acetaminophen six times across pregnancy. Language data were collected at 26.5-28.5 months using the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (CDI; n = 298), and 36-38 months using the Speech and Language Assessment Scale (SLAS; n = 254). RESULTS Taking more acetaminophen during the second or third trimester was associated with marginally smaller vocabularies and shorter utterance length (M3L) at 26.5-28.5 months. More acetaminophen use during the third trimester was also associated with increased odds of M3L scores ≤25th percentile in male children. More use during the second or third trimester was associated with lower SLAS scores at 36-38 months. Third trimester use was specifically related to lower SLAS scores in male children. CONCLUSIONS Higher prenatal acetaminophen use during pregnancy may be associated with poorer early language development. IMPACT Taking more acetaminophen during pregnancy, particularly during the second and third trimesters, was associated with poorer scores on measures of language development when children were 26.5-28.5 and 36-38 months of age. Only male children had lower scores in analyses stratified by child sex. To our knowledge, this is the first study that has used a standardized measure of language development to assess the potential impact of prenatal exposure to acetaminophen on language development. This study adds to the growing body of literature suggesting that the potential impact of acetaminophen use during pregnancy on fetal neurodevelopment should be carefully evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Woodbury
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
- College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Patricia Cintora
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Shukhan Ng
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Pamela A Hadley
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Susan L Schantz
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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2
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Zhao L, Jones III JP, Anderson LG, Konsoula Z, Nevison CD, Reissner KJ, Parker W. Acetaminophen causes neurodevelopmental injury in susceptible babies and children: no valid rationale for controversy. Clin Exp Pediatr 2024; 67:126-139. [PMID: 37321575 PMCID: PMC10915458 DOI: 10.3345/cep.2022.01319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the worldwide acceptance of acetaminophen (APAP) as a necessary medicine in pediatrics, evidence that early exposure to APAP causes neurodevelopmental injury in susceptible babies and children has been mounting for over a decade. The evidence is diverse and includes extensive work with laboratory animals, otherwise unexplained associations, factors associated with APAP metabolism, and limited studies in humans. Although the evidence has reached an overwhelming level and was recently reviewed in detail, controversy persists. This narrative review evaluates some of that controversy. Evidence from the pre- and postpartum periods was considered to avoid controversy raised by consideration of only limited evidence of risks during the prepartum period. Among other issues, the association between APAP use and the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders was considered. A systematic review revealed that the use of APAP in the pediatric population was never tracked carefully; however, historical events that affected its use were documented and are sufficient to establish apparent correlations with changes in the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders. Moreover, problems with the exclusive reliance on results of meta-analyses of large datasets with limited time frames of drug exposure were reviewed. Furthermore, the evidence of why some children are susceptible to APAPinduced neurodevelopmental injuries was examined. We concluded that available evidence demonstrates that early exposure to APAP causes neurodevelopmental injury in susceptible babies and small children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Cynthia D. Nevison
- Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Kathryn J. Reissner
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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3
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Smith-Webb RS, Barnard-Mayers R, Werler MM, Parker SE. Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and adolescent assessment of behavior: Discrepancies by age and reporter. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1084781. [PMID: 36937866 PMCID: PMC10017987 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1084781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Acetaminophen, which is one of the most commonly used medications during pregnancy, has been linked to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes among offspring during childhood. Less is known about associations with outcomes occurring later in adolescence. Methods: We conducted a follow-up study of children born between 1996 and 2002. Data on illnesses and medications, including acetaminophen, during pregnancy were collected through a standardized interview after delivery. Behavioral assessments were conducted at two subsequent time points, childhood (ages 5-10) and adolescence (ages 11-17). Outcomes examined included internalizing, externalizing, and total behavior problems based on the parent-completed Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the teacher-completed Teacher Report Form (TRF), and the youth-completed Youth Self Report (YSR, adolescent follow-up only). Adjusted linear regression models were used to calculate mean differences (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) in T-scores comparing those with prenatal acetaminophen exposure to those without. Stabilized inverse probability weights were used to account for attrition. Results: Among the 216 mother-child dyads with completed parent and teacher behavioral assessments at both childhood and adolescence, prenatal acetaminophen exposure was not associated with behavioral problems according to either parent or teacher assessments. Modest increases in externalizing and total behavior problems were observed according to youth report (MD: 1.9). Compared to associations observed during the childhood follow-up, associations at adolescence were attenuated according to parent-report. Conclusion: Reported associations between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and behavioral outcomes were not consistent over time nor between reporters.
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Patel E, Jones Iii JP, Bono-Lunn D, Kuchibhatla M, Palkar A, Cendejas Hernandez J, Sarafian JT, Lawton VG, Anderson LG, Konsoula Z, Reissner KJ, Parker W. The safety of pediatric use of paracetamol (acetaminophen): a narrative review of direct and indirect evidence. Minerva Pediatr (Torino) 2022; 74:774-788. [PMID: 35822581 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-5276.22.06932-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy and early childhood was accepted as safe in the 1970s, but is now a subject of considerable concern. Careful analysis shows that initial acceptance of the drug was based on the false assumption that drug interactions in babies and adults are the same, and on a complete absence of knowledge regarding the impact of the drug on brain development. At least fourteen epidemiological studies now indicate that prenatal exposure to paracetamol is associated with neurodevelopmental problems. Based on these studies, it can be concluded that prenatal exposure to paracetamol causes statistically significant risks of developmental delays, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and a subtype of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) associated with hyperkinetic behavior. In contrast, data regarding postnatal exposure to paracetamol are limited, and several factors impede a classic multivariate analysis of epidemiologic data to resolve the issue. However, circumstantial evidence regarding postnatal exposure to the drug is abundant, and includes at least three otherwise unexplained temporal relationships, data from laboratory animal studies, several miscellaneous and otherwise unexplained correlations, and a lack of alternative suspects that fit the evidence-derived profile. Based on this evidence, it can be concluded without any reasonable doubt that oxidative stress puts some babies and children at risk of paracetamol-induced neurodevelopmental injury, and that postnatal exposure to paracetamol in those susceptible babies and children is responsible for many if not most cases of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John P Jones Iii
- WPLab, Inc. Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dillan Bono-Lunn
- Departments of Public Policy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Maragatha Kuchibhatla
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Antara Palkar
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Joshua T Sarafian
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Victoria G Lawton
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lauren G Anderson
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Kathryn J Reissner
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - William Parker
- WPLab, Inc. Durham, NC, USA - .,Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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5
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Khan FY, Kabiraj G, Ahmed MA, Adam M, Mannuru SP, Ramesh V, Shahzad A, Chaduvula P, Khan S. A Systematic Review of the Link Between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Acetaminophen: A Mystery to Resolve. Cureus 2022; 14:e26995. [PMID: 35989852 PMCID: PMC9385573 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.26995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Cendejas-Hernandez J, Sarafian JT, Lawton VG, Palkar A, Anderson LG, Larivière V, Parker W. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) use in infants and children was never shown to be safe for neurodevelopment: a systematic review with citation tracking. Eur J Pediatr 2022; 181:1835-1857. [PMID: 35175416 PMCID: PMC9056471 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-022-04407-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Although widely believed by pediatricians and parents to be safe for use in infants and children when used as directed, increasing evidence indicates that early life exposure to paracetamol (acetaminophen) may cause long-term neurodevelopmental problems. Furthermore, recent studies in animal models demonstrate that cognitive development is exquisitely sensitive to paracetamol exposure during early development. In this study, evidence for the claim that paracetamol is safe was evaluated using a systematic literature search. Publications on PubMed between 1974 and 2017 that contained the keywords "infant" and either "paracetamol" or "acetaminophen" were considered. Of those initial 3096 papers, 218 were identified that made claims that paracetamol was safe for use with infants or children. From these 218, a total of 103 papers were identified as sources of authority for the safety claim. Conclusion: A total of 52 papers contained actual experiments designed to test safety, and had a median follow-up time of 48 h. None monitored neurodevelopment. Furthermore, no trial considered total exposure to drug since birth, eliminating the possibility that the effects of drug exposure on long-term neurodevelopment could be accurately assessed. On the other hand, abundant and sufficient evidence was found to conclude that paracetamol does not induce acute liver damage in babies or children when used as directed. What is Known: • Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is widely thought by pediatricians and parents to be safe when used as directed in the pediatric population, and is the most widely used drug in that population, with more than 90% of children exposed to the drug in some reports. • Paracetamol is known to cause liver damage in adults under conditions of oxidative stress or when used in excess, but increasing evidence from studies in humans and in laboratory animals indicates that the target organ for paracetamol toxicity during early development is the brain, not the liver. What is New: • This study finds hundreds of published reports in the medical literature asserting that paracetamol is safe when used as directed, providing a foundation for the widespread belief that the drug is safe. • This study shows that paracetamol was proven to be safe by approximately 50 short-term studies demonstrating the drug's safety for the pediatric liver, but the drug was never shown to be safe for neurodevelopment. Paracetamol is widely believed to be safe for infants and children when used as directed, despite mounting evidence in humans and in laboratory animals indicating that the drug is not safe for neurodevelopment. An exhaustive search of published work cited for safe use of paracetamol in the pediatric population revealed 52 experimental studies pointing toward safety, but the median follow-up time was only 48 h, and neurodevelopment was never assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Cendejas-Hernandez
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA
- WPLab, Inc, 1023 Wells St, Durham, NC 27707 USA
| | - Joshua T. Sarafian
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA
| | - Victoria G. Lawton
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA
| | - Antara Palkar
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA
| | - Lauren G. Anderson
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA
| | - Vincent Larivière
- École de Bibliothéconomie Et Des Sciences de L’information, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - William Parker
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA
- WPLab, Inc, 1023 Wells St, Durham, NC 27707 USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 USA
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7
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Philippot G, Hosseini K, Yakub A, Mhajar Y, Hamid M, Buratovic S, Fredriksson R. Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) and its Effect on the Developing Mouse Brain. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:867748. [PMID: 35391823 PMCID: PMC8981466 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.867748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracetamol, or acetaminophen (AAP), is the most commonly used analgesic during pregnancy and early life. While therapeutic doses of AAP are considered harmless during these periods, recent findings in both humans and rodents suggest a link between developmental exposure to AAP and behavioral consequences later in life. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of neonatal exposure to clinically relevant doses of AAP on adult spontaneous behavior, habituation, memory, learning, and cognitive flexibility later in life using a mouse model. Markers of oxidative stress, axon outgrowth, and glutamatergic transmission were also investigated in the hippocampus during the first 24 h after exposure. In addition, potential long-term effects on synaptic density in the hippocampus have been investigated. In a home cage setting, mice neonatally exposed to AAP (30 + 30 mg/kg, 4 h apart) on postnatal day 10 displayed altered spontaneous behavior and changed habituation patterns later in life compared to controls. These mice also displayed reduced memory, learning and cognitive flexibility compared to control animals in the Morris water maze. An increase of markers for oxidative stress was observed in the hippocampus 6 h after AAP exposure. As AAP is the first choice treatment for pain and/or fever during pregnancy and early life, these results may be of great importance for risk assessment. Here we show that AAP can have persistent negative effects on brain development and suggest that AAP, despite the relatively low doses, is capable to induce acute oxidative stress in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaëtan Philippot
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Molecular Neuropharmacology, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Gaëtan Philippot,
| | - Kimia Hosseini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Molecular Neuropharmacology, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Armine Yakub
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Molecular Neuropharmacology, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yasser Mhajar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Molecular Neuropharmacology, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mariam Hamid
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Molecular Neuropharmacology, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sonja Buratovic
- Department of Organismal Biology, Environmental Toxicology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Robert Fredriksson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Molecular Neuropharmacology, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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8
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Long-Term Safety of Prenatal and Neonatal Exposure to Paracetamol: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19042128. [PMID: 35206317 PMCID: PMC8871754 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Paracetamol is the most commonly used antipyretic and analgesic in pregnancy. It is also increasingly used off-label in the neonatal intensive care unit. Despite the frequent use of paracetamol, concerns have been raised regarding the high variability in neonatal dosing regimens and the long-term safety of early life exposure. Objective: To investigate the available evidence on the long-term safety of prenatal and neonatal paracetamol exposure. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of the electronic databases Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase and Web of Science from inception to August 2021 for original research studies of any design that described the use of paracetamol in the prenatal or neonatal (within the first four weeks of life) periods and examined the occurrence of neurodevelopmental, atopic or reproductive adverse outcomes at or beyond birth. Results: We identified 1313 unique articles and included 30 studies in the final review. Of all studies, 27 (90%), two (7%) and one (3%) were on the long-term safety of prenatal, neonatal and both prenatal and neonatal exposure, respectively. Thirteen (46%), 11 (39%) and four (15%) studies examined neurodevelopmental, atopic and reproductive outcomes. Eleven (100%), 11 (100%), and three (27%) studies on prenatal exposure reported adverse neurodevelopmental, atopic and reproductive outcomes. Only one study found a possible correlation between neonatal paracetamol exposure and long-term adverse outcomes. Conclusions: The available evidence, although limited, suggests a possible association between prenatal paracetamol exposure and an increased risk of neurodevelopmental, atopic and reproductive adverse outcomes. There is an immediate need for robust data on the long-term safety of paracetamol exposure in the prenatal and neonatal periods.
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9
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Bauer AZ, Swan SH, Kriebel D, Liew Z, Taylor HS, Bornehag CG, Andrade AM, Olsen J, Jensen RH, Mitchell RT, Skakkebaek NE, Jégou B, Kristensen DM. Paracetamol use during pregnancy - a call for precautionary action. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2021; 17:757-766. [PMID: 34556849 PMCID: PMC8580820 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-021-00553-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Paracetamol (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP), otherwise known as acetaminophen) is the active ingredient in more than 600 medications used to relieve mild to moderate pain and reduce fever. APAP is widely used by pregnant women as governmental agencies, including the FDA and EMA, have long considered APAP appropriate for use during pregnancy when used as directed. However, increasing experimental and epidemiological research suggests that prenatal exposure to APAP might alter fetal development, which could increase the risks of some neurodevelopmental, reproductive and urogenital disorders. Here we summarize this evidence and call for precautionary action through a focused research effort and by increasing awareness among health professionals and pregnant women. APAP is an important medication and alternatives for treatment of high fever and severe pain are limited. We recommend that pregnant women should be cautioned at the beginning of pregnancy to: forego APAP unless its use is medically indicated; consult with a physician or pharmacist if they are uncertain whether use is indicated and before using on a long-term basis; and minimize exposure by using the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. We suggest specific actions to implement these recommendations. This Consensus Statement reflects our concerns and is currently supported by 91 scientists, clinicians and public health professionals from across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Z Bauer
- Department of Public Health, University of Massachusetts School of Health Sciences, Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Shanna H Swan
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - David Kriebel
- Department of Public Health, University of Massachusetts School of Health Sciences, Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Yale Center for Perinatal, Paediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hugh S Taylor
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Carl-Gustaf Bornehag
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
| | - Anderson M Andrade
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Jørn Olsen
- Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Rigmor H Jensen
- Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rod T Mitchell
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Niels E Skakkebaek
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bernard Jégou
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) UMR_S, 1085, Rennes, France
| | - David M Kristensen
- Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) UMR_S, 1085, Rennes, France.
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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10
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Bührer C, Endesfelder S, Scheuer T, Schmitz T. Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) and the Developing Brain. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11156. [PMID: 34681816 PMCID: PMC8540524 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Paracetamol is commonly used to treat fever and pain in pregnant women, but there are growing concerns that this may cause attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder in the offspring. A growing number of epidemiological studies suggests that relative risks for these disorders increase by an average of about 25% following intrauterine paracetamol exposure. The data analyzed point to a dose-effect relationship but cannot fully account for unmeasured confounders, notably indication and genetic transmission. Only few experimental investigations have addressed this issue. Altered behavior has been demonstrated in offspring of paracetamol-gavaged pregnant rats, and paracetamol given at or prior to day 10 of life to newborn mice resulted in altered locomotor activity in response to a novel home environment in adulthood and blunted the analgesic effect of paracetamol given to adult animals. The molecular mechanisms that might mediate these effects are unknown. Paracetamol has diverse pharmacologic actions. It reduces prostaglandin formation via competitive inhibition of the peroxidase moiety of prostaglandin H2 synthase, while its metabolite N-arachidonoyl-phenolamine activates transient vanilloid-subtype 1 receptors and interferes with cannabinoid receptor signaling. The metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzo-quinone-imine, which is pivotal for liver damage after overdosing, exerts oxidative stress and depletes glutathione in the brain already at dosages below the hepatic toxicity threshold. Given the widespread use of paracetamol during pregnancy and the lack of safe alternatives, its impact on the developing brain deserves further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Bührer
- Department of Neonatology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13344 Berlin, Germany; (S.E.); (T.S.); (T.S.)
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11
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Alemany S, Avella-García C, Liew Z, García-Esteban R, Inoue K, Cadman T, López-Vicente M, González L, Riaño Galán I, Andiarena A, Casas M, Margetaki K, Strandberg-Larsen K, Lawlor DA, El Marroun H, Tiemeier H, Iñiguez C, Tardón A, Santa-Marina L, Júlvez J, Porta D, Chatzi L, Sunyer J. Prenatal and postnatal exposure to acetaminophen in relation to autism spectrum and attention-deficit and hyperactivity symptoms in childhood: Meta-analysis in six European population-based cohorts. Eur J Epidemiol 2021; 36:993-1004. [PMID: 34046850 PMCID: PMC8542535 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-021-00754-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The potential etiological role of early acetaminophen exposure on Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is inconclusive. We aimed to study this association in a collaborative study of six European population-based birth/child cohorts. A total of 73,881 mother-child pairs were included in the study. Prenatal and postnatal (up to 18 months) acetaminophen exposure was assessed through maternal questionnaires or interviews. ASC and ADHD symptoms were assessed at 4-12 years of age using validated instruments. Children were classified as having borderline/clinical symptoms using recommended cutoffs for each instrument. Hospital diagnoses were also available in one cohort. Analyses were adjusted for child and maternal characteristics along with indications for acetaminophen use. Adjusted cohort-specific effect estimates were combined using random-effects meta-analysis. The proportion of children having borderline/clinical symptoms ranged between 0.9 and 12.9% for ASC and between 1.2 and 12.2% for ADHD. Results indicated that children prenatally exposed to acetaminophen were 19% and 21% more likely to subsequently have borderline or clinical ASC (OR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.07-1.33) and ADHD symptoms (OR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.07-1.36) compared to non-exposed children. Boys and girls showed higher odds for ASC and ADHD symptoms after prenatal exposure, though these associations were slightly stronger among boys. Postnatal exposure to acetaminophen was not associated with ASC or ADHD symptoms. These results replicate previous work and support providing clear information to pregnant women and their partners about potential long-term risks of acetaminophen use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Alemany
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, C. Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Claudia Avella-García
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, C. Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Hospital Sagrat Cor, Martorell, Spain
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Departmen of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA
- Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA
| | - Raquel García-Esteban
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, C. Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Kosuke Inoue
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, USA
| | - Tim Cadman
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) and School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Medical School, Population Health Science, Bristol, UK
| | - Mònica López-Vicente
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC-Sophia, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Llúcia González
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Isolina Riaño Galán
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Paediatrics, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, University of Oviedo and ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Ainara Andiarena
- Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country, Gipuzkoa, Spain
- Health Research Institute, Biodonostia, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Maribel Casas
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, C. Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Katrine Strandberg-Larsen
- Section for Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Deborah A Lawlor
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) and School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Medical School, Population Health Science, Bristol, UK
- Bristol NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Bristol, UK
| | - Hanan El Marroun
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC-Sophia, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC-Sophia, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Social and Behavioral Science, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Carmen Iñiguez
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Statistics and Computational Research, Universitat de València, València, Spain
| | - Adonina Tardón
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), IUOPA, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Loreto Santa-Marina
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute, Biodonostia, San Sebastian, Spain
- Public Health Division of Gipuzkoa, Basque Government, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Jordi Júlvez
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, C. Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Daniela Porta
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Leda Chatzi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, University Park Campus, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, C. Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
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12
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Perinatal Acetaminophen Exposure and Childhood Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Exploring the Role of Umbilical Cord Plasma Metabolites in Oxidative Stress Pathways. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11101302. [PMID: 34679367 PMCID: PMC8533963 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11101302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress mechanisms may explain associations between perinatal acetaminophen exposure and childhood attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We investigated whether the changes in umbilical cord plasma amino acids needed to synthesize the antioxidant glutathione and in the oxidative stress biomarker 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine may explain the association between cord plasma acetaminophen and ADHD in the Boston Birth Cohort (BBC). Mother–child dyads were followed at the Boston Medical Center between 1998 and 2018. Cord plasma analytes were measured from archived samples collected at birth. Physician diagnoses of childhood ADHD were obtained from medical records. The final sample consisted of 568 participants (child mean age [SD]: 9.3 [3.5] years, 315 (52.8%) male, 248 (43.7%) ADHD, 320 (56.3%) neurotypical development). Cord unmetabolized acetaminophen was positively correlated with methionine (R = 0.33, p < 0.001), serine (R = 0.30, p < 0.001), glycine (R = 0.34, p < 0.001), and glutamate (R = 0.16, p < 0.001). Children with cord acetaminophen levels >50th percentile appeared to have higher risk of ADHD for each increase in cord 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine level. Adjusting for covariates, increasing cord methionine, glycine, serine, and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine were associated with significantly higher odds for childhood ADHD. Cord methionine statistically mediated 22.1% (natural indirect effect logOR = 0.167, SE = 0.071, p = 0.019) and glycine mediated 22.0% (natural indirect effect logOR = 0.166, SE = 0.078, p = 0.032) of the association between cord acetaminophen >50th percentile with ADHD. Our findings provide some clues, but additional investigation into oxidative stress pathways and the association of acetaminophen exposure and childhood ADHD is warranted.
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Pereira G, Surita FG, Ferracini AC, Madeira CDS, Oliveira LS, Mazzola PG. Self-Medication Among Pregnant Women: Prevalence and Associated Factors. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:659503. [PMID: 34552478 PMCID: PMC8450335 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.659503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The pregnancy period, with its peculiarities and specific symptoms that may or may not be physiological, can lead to medication use through prescription or even self-medication. This study aimed to assess self-medication practices among pregnant women, the most used medications, symptoms reported, and factors associated with this practice. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted with pregnant women with an antenatal care (ANC) appointment in a tertiary teaching hospital referral in women's health. From April 2019 to February 2020, 297 pregnant women were interviewed. Self-medication was considered as the use of any medicine (including medicinal plants (MPs), herbal products, and vitamins) without a medical or dental prescription. The period considered to assess self-medication practice was the last 60 days prior to the study interview. Results: Among the 297 women interviewed, 107 (36.0%) had practiced self-medication in the previous 60 days. Acetaminophen was the most used medication, and headache was the most frequent symptom reported by self-medicated pregnant women. Pregnant women with high-school (73 (68.2%) (OR = 2.52; 95% CI 1.17-5.43; p = 0.018)) or university-level (23 (21.5%) (OR = 2.82; 95% CI 1.15-6.94; p = 0.024)) education had a higher risk of practicing self-medication when compared to women with lower education. Women in the first gestational trimester (35 (32.7%) (OR = 3.61; 95% CI 1.64-7.96; p = 0.002)) and with two or more pregnancies (87 (81.2%) (OR = 1.96; 95% CI 1.07-3.60; p = 0.029)) were more likely to practice self-medication than pregnant women in the second or third gestational trimester and in the first pregnancy, respectively. Conclusion: Self-medication was practiced by a considerable proportion of our sample, with the majority being OTC drugs. The factors associated with self-medication can help to improve prevention strategies regarding self-medication during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Pereira
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Garanhani Surita
- School of Medical Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Amanda Canato Ferracini
- Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Cinthia de Souza Madeira
- Graduate Program in Gerontology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Letícia Silva Oliveira
- School of Medical Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
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Suda N, Cendejas Hernandez J, Poulton J, Jones JP, Konsoula Z, Smith C, Parker W. Therapeutic doses of acetaminophen with co-administration of cysteine and mannitol during early development result in long term behavioral changes in laboratory rats. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253543. [PMID: 34170958 PMCID: PMC8232535 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on several lines of evidence, numerous investigators have suggested that acetaminophen exposure during early development can induce neurological disorders. We had previously postulated that acetaminophen exposure early in life, if combined with antioxidants that prevent accumulation of NAPQI, the toxic metabolite of acetaminophen, might be innocuous. In this study, we administered acetaminophen at or below the currently recommended therapeutic dose to male laboratory rat pups aged 4-10 days. The antioxidants cysteine and mannitol were included to prevent accumulation of NAPQI. In addition, animals were exposed to a cassette of common stress factors: an inflammatory diet, psychological stress, antibiotics, and mock infections using killed bacteria. At age 37-49 days, observation during introduction to a novel conspecific revealed increased rearing behavior, an asocial activity, in animals treated with acetaminophen plus antioxidants, regardless of their exposure to oxidative stress factors (2-way ANOVA; P < 0.0001). This observation would suggest that the initial hypothesis is incorrect, and that oxidative stress mediators do not entirely eliminate the effects of acetaminophen on neurodevelopment. This study provides additional cause for caution when considering the use of acetaminophen in the pediatric population, and provides evidence that the effects of acetaminophen on neurodevelopment need to be considered both in the presence and in the absence of oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navneet Suda
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Jasmine Cendejas Hernandez
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - John Poulton
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - John P. Jones
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Zacharoula Konsoula
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Caroline Smith
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - William Parker
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
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15
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Gustavson K, Ystrom E, Ask H, Ask Torvik F, Hornig M, Susser E, Lipkin WI, Lupattelli A, Stoltenberg C, Magnus P, Mjaaland S, Askeland RB, Walle KM, Bresnahan M, Nordeng H, Reichborn‐Kjennerud T. Acetaminophen use during pregnancy and offspring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – a longitudinal sibling control study. JCPP ADVANCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Gustavson
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health Oslo Norway
- Promenta Research Center University of Oslo Oslo Norway
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health Oslo Norway
- Promenta Research Center University of Oslo Oslo Norway
| | - Helga Ask
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health Oslo Norway
| | - Fartein Ask Torvik
- Department of Psychology University of Oslo Oslo Norway
- Center for Fertility and Health Norwegian Institute of Public Health Oslo Norway
| | - Mady Hornig
- Mailman School of Public Health Columbia University New York NY USA
| | - Ezra Susser
- Mailman School of Public Health Columbia University New York NY USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute New York NY USA
| | - W. Ian Lipkin
- Department of Epidemiology Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health New York NY USA
- Center for Infection and Immunity Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health New York NY USA
- Departments of Neurology and Pathology Mailman School of Public Health New York NY USA
- College of Physicians and Surgeons Columbia University New York NY USA
| | - Angela Lupattelli
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group Department of Pharmacy, and PharmaTox Strategic Research Initiative Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences University of Oslo Oslo Norway
| | - Camilla Stoltenberg
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health Oslo Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care University of Bergen Bergen Norway
| | - Per Magnus
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health Oslo Norway
| | | | | | | | | | - Hedvig Nordeng
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health Oslo Norway
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group Department of Pharmacy, and PharmaTox Strategic Research Initiative Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences University of Oslo Oslo Norway
| | - Ted Reichborn‐Kjennerud
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health Oslo Norway
- Department of Medicine University of Oslo Oslo Norway
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16
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Inoue K, Ritz B, Ernst A, Tseng WL, Yuan Y, Meng Q, Ramlau-Hansen CH, Strandberg-Larsen K, Arah OA, Obel C, Li J, Olsen J, Liew Z. Behavioral Problems at Age 11 Years After Prenatal and Postnatal Exposure to Acetaminophen: Parent-Reported and Self-Reported Outcomes. Am J Epidemiol 2021; 190:1009-1020. [PMID: 33230558 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwaa257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have reported associations between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and behavioral outcomes in young children. We aimed to evaluate the associations of prenatal and postnatal exposures to acetaminophen with behavioral problems in children at age 11 years, using behavioral measures reported by parents and children. We studied 40,934 mother-child pairs from the Danish National Birth Cohort enrolled during 1996-2002. Parent-reported and child-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) responses were collected during the 11-year follow-up. We estimated risk ratios for behavioral problems including total difficulties as well as internalizing or externalizing behaviors following prenatal (during pregnancy) or postnatal (within the first 18 months after birth) acetaminophen exposure. Parent-reported and child-reported SDQ scores were moderately correlated; higher for externalizing (r = 0.59) than internalizing (r = 0.49) behaviors. Prenatal acetaminophen exposure was associated with 10%-40% higher risks for total difficulties and internalizing and externalizing problems based on parent- or child-reported SDQ, with the association being stronger for greater cumulative weeks of acetaminophen use. Postnatal exposure was associated with 16%-19% higher risks for parent-reported internalizing behaviors, but the associations were weak or null for child-reported scores except for prosocial behavior. Our study corroborates published associations between prenatal exposures to acetaminophen and behavioral problems and extends the literature to early adolescence.
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Intrauterine Exposure to Acetaminophen and Adverse Developmental Outcomes: Epidemiological Findings and Methodological Issues. Curr Environ Health Rep 2021; 8:23-33. [PMID: 33398668 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-020-00301-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Acetaminophen (or paracetamol) is one of the most commonly used medications during pregnancy. We reviewed recent epidemiological evidence regarding intrauterine exposure to acetaminophen and risk for asthma, neurodevelopment disorders, and reproductive health in childhood. RECENT FINDINGS An increasing number of cohort studies have suggested that maternal use of acetaminophen during pregnancy was associated with increased risk for asthma; neurodevelopmental disorders, especially ADHD and behavioral problems; and genital malformations in the offspring. Oxidative stress and inflammation or endocrine effects are plausible shared biological mechanisms for the exposure to influence multiple developmental outcomes. We discussed methodological challenges that can threaten the validity of these observational data, including confounding and measurement errors. Novel statistical methods and research designs that can be used to mitigate these issues were introduced. Given the high prevalence of use, findings regarding intrauterine exposure to acetaminophen on multiple child health outcomes raise concerns. Research on causal and non-causal mechanisms that might explain these associations should be a priority.
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18
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Sarovic D. A Unifying Theory for Autism: The Pathogenetic Triad as a Theoretical Framework. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:767075. [PMID: 34867553 PMCID: PMC8637925 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.767075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper presents a unifying theory for autism by applying the framework of a pathogenetic triad to the scientific literature. It proposes a deconstruction of autism into three contributing features (an autistic personality dimension, cognitive compensation, and neuropathological risk factors), and delineates how they interact to cause a maladaptive behavioral phenotype that may require a clinical diagnosis. The autistic personality represents a common core condition, which induces a set of behavioral issues when pronounced. These issues are compensated for by cognitive mechanisms, allowing the individual to remain adaptive and functional. Risk factors, both exogenous and endogenous ones, show pathophysiological convergence through their negative effects on neurodevelopment. This secondarily affects cognitive compensation, which disinhibits a maladaptive behavioral phenotype. The triad is operationalized and methods for quantification are presented. With respect to the breadth of findings in the literature that it can incorporate, it is the most comprehensive model yet for autism. Its main implications are that (1) it presents the broader autism phenotype as a non-pathological core personality domain, which is shared across the population and uncoupled from associated features such as low cognitive ability and immune dysfunction, (2) it proposes that common genetic variants underly the personality domain, and that rare variants act as risk factors through negative effects on neurodevelopment, (3) it outlines a common pathophysiological mechanism, through inhibition of neurodevelopment and cognitive dysfunction, by which a wide range of endogenous and exogenous risk factors lead to autism, and (4) it suggests that contributing risk factors, and findings of immune and autonomic dysfunction are clinically ascertained rather than part of the core autism construct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darko Sarovic
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,MedTech West, Gothenburg, Sweden
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19
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Parker SE, Collett BR, Werler MM. Maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy and childhood behavioural problems: Discrepancies between mother- and teacher-reported outcomes. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2020; 34:299-308. [PMID: 31693212 PMCID: PMC7192789 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy is common and has been associated with childhood behavioural problems among offspring, specifically hyperactivity and conduct problems. OBJECTIVE Assessments of child behaviour in many previous studies have relied on maternal or parent report. Acknowledging that results of behavioural assessments vary between informants, we examined the association between maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy and behaviour problems in childhood based on mother- and teacher-report. METHODS A longitudinal study of 560 mother-child pairs with data on illnesses and medication use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental assessments during childhood was conducted. Acetaminophen use during pregnancy was captured using a standardised maternal interview, completed 1 year after delivery on average. Measures of childhood (6-12 years of age) behaviour were obtained via mother- and teacher-report, using the Child Behaviour Checklist and Teacher Report Form. Linear and log-binomial models were used to calculate adjusted mean differences (MD) and risk ratios (RR), respectively and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for internalising, externalising, and total behaviour problems comparing acetaminophen users to non-users. Stabilized inverse probability weights were used to account for loss to follow-up, and adjustments for indication were made. RESULTS Approximately 60% (n = 354) of women reported use of acetaminophen during pregnancy. Acetaminophen use during pregnancy was associated with an increase in total behaviour problem score and risk of clinical behaviour problems according to mother report (MD 2.2, 95% CI 0.3, 4.1 and RR 1.93, 95% CI 0.99, 3.76) but not according to teacher report. Weighting to account for participation did not alter results, while adjustment for indications of acetaminophen use greatly attenuated the associations with mother-reported total behaviour problem score and risk of clinical behaviour problems (MD 0.1, 95% CI -2.1, 2.3 and RR 1.31, 95% CI 0.67, 2.58). CONCLUSIONS Acetaminophen use during pregnancy was weakly associated with mother-reported behaviour problems and not associated with teacher-reported problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha E. Parker
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Brent R. Collett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Martha M. Werler
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
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20
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Trønnes JN, Wood M, Lupattelli A, Ystrom E, Nordeng H. Prenatal paracetamol exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preschool-aged children. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2020; 34:247-256. [PMID: 31448449 PMCID: PMC8285062 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have suggested an association between prenatal paracetamol exposure and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. However, these findings may be confounded by unmeasured factors related to maternal use of paracetamol and child outcomes. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between duration and timing of prenatal paracetamol exposure on parent-reported communication skills, behaviour, and temperament in preschool-aged children, with focus on the role of unmeasured confounding. METHODS We used data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. Linear and generalised linear models with inverse probability weights and robust standard errors were used to quantify the association between prenatal paracetamol exposure and continuous and categorical outcomes. RESULTS Of the 32 934 children included in our study, 8374 (25.4%), 4961 (15.1%), and 1791 (5.4%) were prenatally exposed to paracetamol in one, two, and three trimesters, respectively. Children exposed to paracetamol in two trimesters scored lower on shyness compared with unexposed children (β -0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.05, -0.19). Children exposed to paracetamol in three trimesters had a moderate increased risk of internalising behaviour problems (relative risk (RR) 1.36, 95% CI 1.02, 1.80) and borderline externalising behaviour problems (RR 1.22, 95% CI 0.93, 1.60) compared with unexposed children. Children exposed to paracetamol in 2nd/3rd trimester scored lower on shyness (β -0.32, 95% CI -0.66, 0.02) compared with unexposed children. Sensitivity analyses indicated that unmeasured confounders play an important role and may potentially bias the effect estimates away from the null. CONCLUSIONS Timing of exposure and short-term use of paracetamol during pregnancy do not seem to pose any substantial risk of the outcomes examined. Although we found an association between paracetamol use in multiple trimesters and lower shyness and greater internalising behaviour in preschool-aged children, we cannot rule out chance or unmeasured confounding as possible explanations for these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanne N. Trønnes
- PharmacoEpidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, and PharmaTox Strategic Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mollie Wood
- PharmacoEpidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, and PharmaTox Strategic Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Angela Lupattelli
- PharmacoEpidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, and PharmaTox Strategic Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- PharmacoEpidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, and PharmaTox Strategic Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway,Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway,Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hedvig Nordeng
- PharmacoEpidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, and PharmaTox Strategic Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway,Department of Child Health and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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21
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Golding J, Gregory S, Clark R, Ellis G, Iles‐Caven Y, Northstone K. Associations between paracetamol (acetaminophen) intake between 18 and 32 weeks gestation and neurocognitive outcomes in the child: A longitudinal cohort study. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2020; 34:257-266. [PMID: 31523834 PMCID: PMC7217049 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of epidemiological studies concerning possible adverse effects of paracetamol (acetaminophen) in pregnancy have been focussed on childhood asthma. Initial results of a robust association have been confirmed in several studies. Recently, a few cohort studies have looked at particular neurocognitive outcomes, and several have implicated hyperactivity. OBJECTIVES In order to confirm these findings, further information and results are required. Here, we assess whether paracetamol intake between 18 and 32 weeks gestation is associated with childhood behavioural and cognitive outcomes using a large population. METHODS Data collected by the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) at 32 weeks gestation and referring to the period from 18 to 32 weeks, identified 43.9% of women having taken paracetamol. We used an exposome analysis first to determine the background factors associated with pregnant women taking the drug, and then allowed for those factors to assess associations with child outcomes (measured using regression analyses). RESULTS We identified 15 variables independently associated with taking paracetamol in this time period, which were used as potential confounders. Of the 135 neurocognitive variables considered, adjusting for the likelihood of false discovery, we identified 56 outcomes for adjusted analyses. Adjustment identified 12 showing independent associations with paracetamol use at P < .05, four of which were at P < .0001 (all related to child behaviours reported by the mother at 42 and 47 months; eg conduct problems: adjusted mean score + 0.22 (95% confidence interval 0.10, 0.33)). There were few associations with behavioural or neurocognitive outcomes after age 7-8 years, whether reported by the mother or the teacher. CONCLUSIONS If paracetamol use in mid-to-late pregnancy has an adverse effect on child neurocognitive outcome, it appears to mainly relate to the pre-school period. It is important that these results be tested using other datasets or methodologies before assuming that they are causal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Golding
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical SchoolUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Steven Gregory
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical SchoolUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Rosie Clark
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical SchoolUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Genette Ellis
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical SchoolUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Yasmin Iles‐Caven
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical SchoolUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Kate Northstone
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical SchoolUniversity of BristolBristolUK
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22
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Laue HE, Cassoulet R, Abdelouahab N, Serme-Gbedo YK, Desautels AS, Brennan KJM, Bellenger JP, Burris HH, Coull BA, Weisskopf MG, Takser L, Baccarelli AA. Association Between Meconium Acetaminophen and Childhood Neurocognitive Development in GESTE, a Canadian Cohort Study. Toxicol Sci 2019; 167:138-144. [PMID: 30202886 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Acetaminophen is the only over-the-counter pain reliever that is not contraindicated during pregnancy, but recent studies have questioned whether acetaminophen is safe for the fetus, particularly the developing brain. This prospective birth cohort study probed the previously observed association between in utero exposure to acetaminophen and neurodevelopment by using concentrations of acetaminophen measured in meconium, which more objectively captures exposure of the fetus than maternal report. Exposure, measured by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, was categorized into nondetection, low detection, and high detection levels. At age 6-8 years, children completed a set of subtests from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 4th edition. Additionally, this study examined potential effect modification by child sex on the association between acetaminophen exposure and neurodevelopment. In fully adjusted models, in utero exposure to acetaminophen was not statistically significantly associated with decreased scores on any of the examined subtests in all children combined (n = 118). The effect of in utero acetaminophen exposure on the Coding subtest was marginally significantly different among boys and girls, with girls performing significantly better on the task with higher levels of acetaminophen compared with girls with undetectable levels of exposure (βgirls, low = 2.83 [0.97, 4.70], βgirls, high = 1.95 [-0.03, 3.93], βboys, low = .02 [-1.78, 1.81], βboys, high = -.39 [-2.09, 1.31], pinteraction = .06). Effect modification by child sex was not observed on other subtests. These results do not support prior reports of adverse neurodevelopmental effects of in utero exposure to acetaminophen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E Laue
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.,Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York 10032
| | | | - Nadia Abdelouahab
- Département de Pédiatrie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada J1K 2R1
| | - Yasmine K Serme-Gbedo
- Département de Pédiatrie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada J1K 2R1
| | | | - Kasey J M Brennan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York 10032
| | | | - Heather H Burris
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Brent A Coull
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Marc G Weisskopf
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Larissa Takser
- Département de Pédiatrie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada J1K 2R1
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York 10032
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23
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Hjorth S, Bromley R, Ystrom E, Lupattelli A, Spigset O, Nordeng H. Use and validity of child neurodevelopment outcome measures in studies on prenatal exposure to psychotropic and analgesic medications - A systematic review. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219778. [PMID: 31295318 PMCID: PMC6622545 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years there has been increased attention to child neurodevelopment in studies on medication safety in pregnancy. Neurodevelopment is a multifactorial outcome that can be assessed by various assessors, using different measures. This has given rise to a debate on the validity of various measures of neurodevelopment. The aim of this review was twofold. Firstly we aimed to give an overview of studies on child neurodevelopment after prenatal exposure to central nervous system acting medications using psychotropics and analgesics as examples, giving special focus on the use and validity of outcome measures. Secondly, we aimed to give guidance on how to conduct and interpret medication safety studies with neurodevelopment outcomes. We conducted a systematic review in the MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane databases from inception to April 2019, including controlled studies on prenatal exposure to psychotropics or analgesics and child neurodevelopment, measured with standardised psychometric instruments or by diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorder. The review management tool Covidence was used for data-extraction. Outcomes were grouped as motor skills, cognition, behaviour, emotionality, or "other". We identified 110 eligible papers (psychotropics, 82 papers, analgesics, 29 papers). A variety of neurodevelopmental outcome measures were used, including 27 different psychometric instruments administered by health care professionals, 15 different instruments completed by parents, and 13 different diagnostic categories. In 23 papers, no comments were made on the validity of the outcome measure. In conclusion, establishing neurodevelopmental safety includes assessing a wide variety of outcomes important for the child's daily functioning including motor skills, cognition, behaviour, and emotionality, with valid and reliable measures from infancy through to adolescence. Consensus is needed in the scientific community on how neurodevelopment should be assessed in medication safety in pregnancy studies. Review registration number: CRD42018086101 in the PROSPERO database.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Hjorth
- PharmacoEpidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rebecca Bromley
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, England
- Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, England
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- PharmacoEpidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Angela Lupattelli
- PharmacoEpidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Olav Spigset
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Hedvig Nordeng
- PharmacoEpidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Child Health and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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24
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Ernst A, Brix N, Lauridsen LLB, Olsen J, Parner ET, Liew Z, Olsen LH, Ramlau-Hansen CH. Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) Exposure During Pregnancy and Pubertal Development in Boys and Girls From a Nationwide Puberty Cohort. Am J Epidemiol 2019; 188:34-46. [PMID: 30202914 PMCID: PMC6321810 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwy193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study explored the association between exposure to acetaminophen during pregnancy and pubertal development using data from 15,822 boys and girls in the longitudinal Puberty Cohort, nested within the Danish National Birth Cohort. Use of acetaminophen was reported 3 times during pregnancy and 6 months postpartum. In total, 54% of mothers indicated use at least once during pregnancy. Between 2012 and 2017, sons and daughters provided information on a wide range of pubertal milestones-including Tanner stages, axillary hair growth, and age at menarche or voice break and first ejaculation-every 6 months from 11 years of age until full sexual maturation. Data were analyzed using a regression model for interval-censored data, providing adjusted mean monthly differences in age at attaining the pubertal milestones according to intrauterine cumulative (weeks) and trimester-specific acetaminophen exposure. Our results suggested a tendency towards slightly earlier attainment of almost all studied markers of female pubertal development with increasing number of weeks of exposure (i.e., about 1.5-3 months earlier age at pubic hair, axillary hair, and acne development comparing unexposed with those prenatally exposed for more than 12 weeks). Male pubertal development had no strong association with acetaminophen exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Ernst
- Section for Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Nis Brix
- Section for Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Lea L B Lauridsen
- Section for Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jørn Olsen
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Erik T Parner
- Section for Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Lars H Olsen
- Section for Paediatric Urology, Department of Urology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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25
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Bolz M, Körber S, Reimer T, Buchmann J, Schober HC, Briese V. The Treatment of Illnesses Arising in Pregnancy. DEUTSCHES ARZTEBLATT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 114:616-626. [PMID: 28974300 DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2017.0616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The treatment of pregnant women who have illnesses unrelated to pregnancy can cause uncertainty among physicians. METHODS We searched the PubMed database and specialty guidelines from Germany and abroad (the guidelines of the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics, the American Congress of Obstetri cians and Gynecologists, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) over the period 2007-2016 for information on standards for the diagnosis and treatment of five illnesses that can arise in pregnancy: bronchial asthma, migraine, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and varicose veins. RESULTS Any diagnostic tests that are carried out in pregnant women should be simple and goal-directed. The choice of drugs that can be used is limited. For many drugs, no embryotoxic or teratogenic effect is suspected, but the level of evidence is low. CONCLUSION When illnesses unrelated to pregnancy arise in pregnant women, attention must be paid to potential diver gences from the typical disease course and to pos sible drug side effects on the fetus in order to prevent serious complications for both mother and child.
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26
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Jambo A, Mengistu G, Sisay M, Amare F, Edessa D. Self-Medication and Contributing Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Public Hospitals of Harar Town, Ethiopia. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1063. [PMID: 30337871 PMCID: PMC6178140 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Self-medication has been increasing in many developing and developed countries. Its use during pregnancy presents a major challenge due to potential undesirable effects on mother and the fetus. So the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of self-medication and contributing factors, among pregnant women. Methodology: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted among 244 pregnant women attending antenatal care at Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital and Jugal Hospital from February to March, 2017. A structured questionnaire based interview was used to collect data from each study subject. Then, data were categorized and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the significance of the association between the outcome and independent variables. P-value <0.05 was considered as a statistically significant in multivariate analysis. Results: The prevalence of self-medication during current pregnancy was 69.4%; out of which, 40.6% uses only herbal medicines to self-medicate. Time saving (50.7%) and prior experience of the drug (25.35%) were the main reasons for self-medication using conventional medicines while fewer side effects (59.86%) and effectiveness (35.92%) were the common reasons for self-medication using herbal medicines. Common cold and headache were among the common indications for self-medication. Friends (28.17%) and the pharmacist/druggist (23.94%) were the commonest source of information for conventional medicines while family/friends (69.72%) and neighbors (26.76%) were the common source of information for herbal medicines. Community drug retail outlets and neighbors were the commonly used sources of conventional medicines; while market place and self-preparation were the common sources of herbal medicines. Previous history of self-medication was significantly associated (P < 0.05) with current self-medication with conventional drugs and being a farmer by occupation and poor monthly income were significantly associated with herbal medicine use during pregnancy (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of self-medication during pregnancy was very high in this study which showed a need for public trainings for all women of reproductive age about the risks of inappropriate self-medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abera Jambo
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
| | - Getnet Mengistu
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Mekonnen Sisay
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
| | - Firehiwot Amare
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
| | - Dumessa Edessa
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
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27
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Bornehag CG, Reichenberg A, Hallerback MU, Wikstrom S, Koch HM, Jonsson BA, Swan SH. Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and children's language development at 30 months. Eur Psychiatry 2018; 51:98-103. [PMID: 29331486 DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine prenatal APAP exposure in relation to language development in offspring at 30 months of age. METHOD A population-based pregnancy cohort study including 754 women who enrolled in the Swedish Environmental Longitudinal, Mother and child, Asthma and allergy (SELMA) study in pregnancy week 8-13. Two exposure measures were used: (1) maternally reported number of APAP tablets taken between conception and enrollment; (2) APAP urinary concentration at enrollment. Language development at 30 months was assessed by nurse's evaluation and parental questionnaire, including the number of words the child used (<25, 25-50 and >50). Main study outcome; parental report of use of fewer than 50 words, termed language delay (LD). RESULTS 59.2% of women enrolled in weeks 8-13 reported taking APAP between conception and enrollment. APAP was measurable in all urine samples and urinary APAP was correlated with the number of APAP taken during pregnancy (P<0.01). Language delay was more prevalent in boys (12.6%) than girls (4.1%) (8.5% in total). Both the number of APAP tablets and urinary APAP concentration were associated with greater LD in girls but not in boys. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for LD among girls whose mothers reported >6 vs. 0 APAP tablets was 5.92 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-31.94). The OR for LD in girls whose mothers' urinary APAP was in the highest compared to the lowest quartile was 10.34 (95% CI 1.37-77.86). While it cannot be ruled out, our available data do not support confounding by indication. CONCLUSIONS Given the prevalence of prenatal APAP use and the importance of language development, these findings, if replicated, would suggest that pregnant women should limit their use of this analgesic during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- C-G Bornehag
- Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, USA.
| | | | | | | | - H M Koch
- Institute of the Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - S H Swan
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, USA
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28
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Olsen J, Liew Z. Fetal programming of mental health by acetaminophen? Response to the SMFM statement: prenatal acetaminophen use and ADHD. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2017; 16:1395-1398. [DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2017.1384812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jørn Olsen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
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29
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Parker W, Hornik CD, Bilbo S, Holzknecht ZE, Gentry L, Rao R, Lin SS, Herbert MR, Nevison CD. The role of oxidative stress, inflammation and acetaminophen exposure from birth to early childhood in the induction of autism. J Int Med Res 2017; 45:407-438. [PMID: 28415925 PMCID: PMC5536672 DOI: 10.1177/0300060517693423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The wide range of factors associated with the induction of autism is invariably linked with either inflammation or oxidative stress, and sometimes both. The use of acetaminophen in babies and young children may be much more strongly associated with autism than its use during pregnancy, perhaps because of well-known deficiencies in the metabolic breakdown of pharmaceuticals during early development. Thus, one explanation for the increased prevalence of autism is that increased exposure to acetaminophen, exacerbated by inflammation and oxidative stress, is neurotoxic in babies and small children. This view mandates extreme urgency in probing the long-term effects of acetaminophen use in babies and the possibility that many cases of infantile autism may actually be induced by acetaminophen exposure shortly after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Parker
- 1 Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Chi Dang Hornik
- 2 Departments of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Staci Bilbo
- 3 Departments of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Zoie E Holzknecht
- 1 Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Lauren Gentry
- 1 Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Rasika Rao
- 1 Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Shu S Lin
- 1 Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Martha R Herbert
- 4 Departments of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Cynthia D Nevison
- 5 Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
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