Fetotoxic risk of AT1 blockers exceeds that of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: an observational study

ACE Inhibitor and Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Use During Pregnancy: Data from the ESC Registry Of Pregnancy and Cardiac Disease (ROPAC)

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are not recommended during the second and third trimesters because of the significant risk of congenital anomalies associated with their use. However, data are scarce, especially regarding their use in the first trimester and about the impact of stopping just before pregnancy. Our study illustrates the profile of the women who used ACE-Is or ARBs during pregnancy and evaluates the impact on perinatal outcomes. The Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiac Disease is a prospective, global registry of pregnancies in women with structural heart disease. Outcomes were compared between women who used ACE-Is or ARBs and those who did not. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to assess the effect of ACE-I or ARB use on the occurrence of congenital anomalies. ACE-I (n = 35) and/or ARB (n = 8) were used in 42 (0.7%) of the 5,739 Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiac Disease pregnancies. Women who used ACE-Is or ARBs more often came from a low-or-middle-income country (57% vs 40%, p = 0.021), had chronic hypertension (31% vs 6%, p <0.001), or a left ventricular ejection fraction <40% (33% vs 4%, p <0.001). In the multivariable analysis, ACE-I use during the first trimester was associated with an increased risk of congenital anomaly (odds ratio 3.2, 95% confidence interval 1.0 to 9.6). Therefore, ACE-Is should be avoided during pregnancy, also in the first trimester, because of a higher risk of congenital anomalies. However, there is no need to stop long before pregnancy. Preconception counseling is crucial to discuss the potential risks of these medications, to evaluate the clinical condition and, if possible, to change or stop the medication.

Exposures to non-therapeutic chemicals before, during and after pregnancy: data from the Swiss Teratogen Information Service (STIS)

AIMS OF THE STUDY

Limited knowledge exists regarding exposures to non-therapeutic chemicals by women planning to conceive, or during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The Swiss Teratogen Information Service (STIS) provides information to healthcare professionals about medications and other exposures during pregnancy or breastfeeding. This study aimed to describe the queries on non-therapeutic chemicals addressed to the STIS over the past two decades.

METHODS

Using data from the STIS for the years 2000 to 2019, we conducted a descriptive analysis of all queries related to women's exposures to non-therapeutic chemicals during pregnancy planning, pregnancy or breastfeeding.

RESULTS

Over two decades, the STIS database recorded 320 exposures to chemicals. Workplace settings accounted for over 60% of queries, followed by exposures at home (20%). In almost half (48%) of the queries, more than one chemical was mentioned, totalling 885 chemicals across these 320 queries. Commonly mentioned chemicals included isopropanol, acetone and lead. Solvents were the leading category of products (16%), followed by cleaning products (10%), paints (8%) and insecticides (5%). The follow-up data showed five diverse cases of congenital malformations, accounting for 4.0% (5 out of 125) of the sample, a figure in line with the background risk of malformations in the general population.

CONCLUSIONS

This study emphasises the importance of conducting research that comprehensively captures the highly heterogeneous exposures to non-therapeutic chemicals during pregnancy and suggests that attention should be given not only to professional settings, but also to domestic contexts.

Management of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: a Position Statement of the European Society of Hypertension Working Group 'Hypertension in Women'

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP), remain the leading cause of adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. Epidemiological factors, comorbidities, assisted reproduction techniques, placental disorders, and genetic predisposition determine the burden of the disease. The pathophysiological substrate and the clinical presentation of HDP are multifarious. The latter and the lack of well designed clinical trials in the field explain the absence of consensus on disease management among relevant international societies. Thus, the usual clinical management of HDP is largely empirical. The current position statement of the Working Group 'Hypertension in Women' of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) aims to employ the current evidence for the management of HDP, discuss the recommendations made in the 2023 ESH guidelines for the management of hypertension, and shed light on controversial issues in the field to stimulate future research.

Drug-induced fetal and offspring disorders, beyond birth defects

Studies on drug utilization in western countries disclosed that about nine over ten women use at least one or more drugs during pregnancy. Determining whether a drug is safe or not in pregnant women is a challenge of all times. As a developing organism, the fetus is particularly vulnerable to effects of drugs used by the mother. Historically, research has predominantly focused on birth defects, which represent the most studied adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, drugs can also alter the ongoing process of pregnancy and impede the general growth of the fetus. Finally, adverse drug reactions can theoretically damage all developing systems, organs or tissues, such as the central nervous system or the immune system. This extensive review focuses on different aspects of drug-induced damages affecting the fetus or the newborn/infant, beyond birth defects, which are not addressed here.

Neonatal Renal Failure Following Intrauterine Exposure to an Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a crucial role in the normal development of the fetal kidney. Late pregnancy blockage of the RAAS, through in-utero exposure to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor blockers, is associated with poor fetal outcomes, including oligohydramnios, renal tubular dysplasia, postnatal anuric renal failure, and hypotension. The present case describes a 39-year-old primigravida that was referred to the emergency department, at 37 weeks, for the evaluation of intrauterine growth restriction and suspected coarctation of the aorta (CoA). She was medicated with enalapril since the 35th week of gestation. She delivered a male infant, weighing 2,110 g, with no apparent malformations. CoA was excluded. During his first day of life, the patient developed anuria, acute renal failure, and hypotension, requiring ionotropic support. Renal ultrasound appeared normal. Diuresis was reinitiated at 48 hours of life after continued supportive measures. Kidney function tests progressively normalized. Additional investigations revealed a low concentration of angiotensin-converting enzyme. The patient is currently 12 months old and has had a favorable evolution. This case highlights the fact that even brief exposure to enalapril in the third trimester may cause RAAS blocker fetopathy. As long-term sequelae of ACEI-exposed infants are poorly described, close follow-up of renal complications is essential. Physicians should be aware of the deleterious effects of RAAS blockers in pregnancy.

Obstetric Medicine: the protocol for a prospective three-dimensional cohort study to assess maternity care for women with pre-existing conditions (ForMaT)

Background

Pregnancies in women with pre-existing medical conditions are on the rise. These pregnancies are characterized by an increased rate of maternal and perinatal complications, which can result in higher health care expenditures and altered pregnancy experiences. The purpose of this study is to integrally analyze maternity care for women with pre-existing conditions in the framework of a risk-adapted, interdisciplinary care by recording three substantial parts of maternity care: (1) maternal and perinatal outcome; (2) hospital costs and reimbursements covering the period from preconception counseling or initial antenatal visit to discharge after birth; and (3) women's experience of reproductive choice and becoming a mother in the presence of a pre-existing condition.

Methods

In this observational, prospective, longitudinal, and monocentric cohort study, we aim to include a total of 1,500 women over a recruitment period of 15 months. Women registering for care at the Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Germany, are allocated to three groups based on their health and risk status: women with pre-existing conditions, as well as healthy women with obstetric risk factor and healthy women with a low-risk pregnancy. Participants are observed from time of initial consultation until discharge after birth. Analysis focuses on (1) maternal and perinatal outcome, especially rate of severe maternal and neonatal morbidity; (2) costs and reimbursements; and (3) surveys to capture of women's experience and health-related quality of life during the time of reproductive choice, pregnancy, and childbirth in the presence of pre-existing medical conditions.

Discussion

With its complex three-dimensional design, the ForMaT-Trial is aiming to provide a comprehensive analysis of pregnancy and childbirth in women with pre-existing conditions. The results may serve as a basis for counseling and care of these women. By analyzing costs of specialized care, data for discussing reimbursement are generated. Lastly, our results may increase awareness for the perception of reproductive choice, pregnancy and motherhood in this continuously rising population.Clinical trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00030061, October 28, 2022.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are one of the most commonly occurring complications of pregnancy and include chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, and pre-eclampsia. New developments in early pregnancy screening to identify women at high risk for pre-eclampsia combined with targeted aspirin prophylaxis could greatly reduce the number of affected pregnancies. Furthermore, recent advances in the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia, such as placental growth factor based testing, have been shown to improve the identification of those pregnancies at highest risk of severe complications. Evidence from trials has refined the target blood pressure and timing of delivery to manage chronic hypertension and pre-eclampsia with non-severe features, respectively. Importantly, a wealth of epidemiological data now links HDP to future cardiovascular disease and diabetes decades after an affected pregnancy. This review discusses the current guidelines and research data on the prevention, diagnosis, management, and postnatal follow-up of HDP. It also discusses the gap in knowledge regarding the long term risks for cardiovascular disease following HDP and illustrates the importance of improving adherence to postnatal guidelines to monitor hypertension and the need for more research focused on primary prevention of future cardiovascular disease in women identified as being at high risk because of HDP.

[Clinical monitoring of children with in utero exposure to angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers]

Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers are widely used to reduce high blood pressure or in other conditions such as congestive heart failure and prevention of diabetic nephropathy. To date, no teratogenic effect has been attributed to them, but in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, their foetotoxicity is broadly documented: transient oligohydramnios or anamnios, associated to possible neonatal anuria and permanent renal damage, which can lead to intrauterine or neonatal death. Long-term effects among children with in utero exposure are poorly known, but the regression of an oligohydramnios might not always be associated with normal renal function after birth or later in life. This justifies seeking the advice of a pediatric nephrologistto consider the most appropriate monitoring for the child at birth and in the following weeks, and possibly beyond, even in case of normal prenatal ultrasound.

Safety of drugs used for the treatment of migraine during pregnancy: a narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Migraine is common in females of childbearing age and negatively impacts quality of life. The majority of those with migraine who become pregnant see an improvement in their condition but not all do. Providing evidence-based recommendations for the pharmacological management of migraine in pregnancy is challenging.

AREAS COVERED

This narrative review provides an update on the safety of drugs used for migraine in pregnancy. National and international guidelines on the management of episodic migraine in adults were used to select the drugs of relevance to pregnant women. The final list of drugs was chosen by a pain specialist who categorized them according to drug class and use in acute management or prevention. PubMed was searched from inception to 31st July 2022 for evidence on drug safety.

EXPERT OPINION

Obtaining high-quality drug safety data in pregnant migraineurs is difficult not least because exposing a fetus to research-related risks is often considered unethical. There is reliance on observational studies which often group drugs together and lack specificities pertinent to drug prescribing like timing, dosing and duration. Improved statistical tools, study designs and the creation of international collaborative frameworks are ways to advance knowledge on drug safety in pregnancy.

Glomerular diseases in pregnancy: pragmatic recommendations for clinical management

Our understanding of the various aspects of pregnancy in women with kidney diseases has significantly improved in the last decades. Nevertheless, little is known about specific kidney diseases. Glomerular diseases are not only a frequent cause of chronic kidney disease in young women, but combine many challenges in pregnancy: immunologic diseases, hypertension, proteinuria, and kidney tissue damage. An international working group undertook the review of available current literature and elicited expert opinions on glomerular diseases in pregnancy with the aim to provide pragmatic information for nephrologists according to the present state-of-the-art knowledge. This work also highlights areas of clinical uncertainty and emphasizes the need for further collaborative studies to improve maternal and fetal health.

Use of Prescribed Drugs to Treat Chronic Diseases during Pregnancy in Outpatient Care in Switzerland between 2014 and 2018: Descriptive Analysis of Swiss Health Care Claims Data

Evidence on the use of drugs during pregnancy in Switzerland is lacking. We aimed to evaluate the utilisation of drugs to treat chronic diseases during pregnancy in Switzerland. We identified all pregnancies (excluding abortions) in Swiss Helsana claims data (2014-2018). In those, we identified all claims for drugs to treat a chronic disease, which typically affects women of childbearing age. Potentially teratogenic/fetotoxic drugs were evaluated during specific risk periods. Results were demographically weighted relative to the Swiss population. We identified claims for ≥1 drug of interest during 22% of 369,371 weighted pregnancies. Levothyroxine was most frequently claimed (6.6%). Antihypertensives were claimed during 5.3% (3.9% nifedipine in T3). Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) inhibitors were dispensed to 0.3/10,000 pregnancies during trimester 2 (T2) or trimester 3 (T3). Insulin was claimed during 3.5% of pregnancies, most frequently in T3 (3.3%). Exposure to psychotropic drugs was 3.8% (mostly Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)) and to drugs for obstructive airway diseases 3.6%. Traditional immunosuppressants (excluding corticosteroids) were claimed during 0.5% (mainly azathioprine and hydroxychloroquine), biologic immunosuppressants (Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors and interleukin inhibitors) during 0.2%, and drugs to treat multiple sclerosis during 0.09% of pregnancies. Antiretrovirals were claimed during 0.15% of pregnancies. Patterns of drug claims were in line with treatment recommendations, but relatively rare events of in utero exposure to teratogenic drugs may have had severe implications for those involved.

Quantifying Proximal Collecting Tubule Deficiency in Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor and Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker Fetopathy

INTRODUCTION

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (AAs) are used for several indications, with cessation recommended in pregnancy due to toxic effects. AA fetopathy phenotype is similar to renal tubular dysgenesis including reduced proximal convoluted tubules (PCTs). Our study aimed to quantify the reduction of PCTs in fetuses and infants with prenatal exposure to AAs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified 5 fetal AA exposure cases that underwent autopsy at our institution between 2011 and 2018 and compared with 5 gestational age-matched controls. Immunohistochemistry with CD10 and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) was utilized.

RESULTS

CD10 and EMA identified a median PCT density of 19.0% ± 12.3% in AA fetopathy patients, significantly less than controls (52.8% ± 4.4%; p < 0.0001). One case with in utero cessation had a PCT density of 34.2% ± 0.2%. Among other AA fetopathy findings, 1 case demonstrated unilateral renal vein thrombosis and 4 had hypocalvaria.

CONCLUSIONS

We have quantified the reduction in AA fetopathy PCT density, and demonstrated in utero cessation may recover PCT differentiation. Future studies may benefit from calculating PCT percentage as a potential biomarker to correlate with post-natal renal function and maternal factors including medication type, dosage, duration, and time from medication cessation.

Renin-angiotensin system in mammalian kidney development

Mutations in the genes of the renin-angiotensin system result in congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), the main cause of end-stage renal disease in children. The molecular mechanisms that cause CAKUT are unclear in most cases. To improve the care of children with CAKUT, it is critical to determine the underlying mechanisms of CAKUT. In this review, we discuss recent advances that have helped to better understand how disruption of the renin-angiotensin system during kidney development contributes to CAKUT.

Pregnant women, prescription, and fetal risk

Since the historical scandal of thalidomide in the 1960s, practitioners and future mothers are fearful of drugs during pregnancy. In-uterine exposure to drugs can induce major malformation of the fetus or even intrauterine fetal death. Prescribing drugs to a pregnant woman requires particular attention, and it is necessary to consider both the maternal needs and the proven and potential fetal risks. In this chapter, we review the mechanisms for medication transfer from mother to fetus, fetal risk according to pregnancy timeline, and the main dangerous drugs during pregnancy. We also focus on three prescription debates, which are relevant for neurodevelopmental disorder, because they each point to a paradigmatic situation-diethylstilbestrol, which shows transgenerational adversary effects; valproate, which impacts neurodevelopment as a whole; and antidepressants for which the adverse impact on neurodevelopment is still controversial given the impact of depression itself. Finally, we consider the implications for practice and toxicologic research to promote risk prevention.