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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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Zafari Z, Park JE, Shah CH, dosReis S, Gorman EF, Hua W, Ma Y, Tian F. The State of Use and Utility of Negative Controls in Pharmacoepidemiologic Studies. Am J Epidemiol 2024; 193:426-453. [PMID: 37851862 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwad201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Uses of real-world data in drug safety and effectiveness studies are often challenged by various sources of bias. We undertook a systematic search of the published literature through September 2020 to evaluate the state of use and utility of negative controls to address bias in pharmacoepidemiologic studies. Two reviewers independently evaluated study eligibility and abstracted data. Our search identified 184 eligible studies for inclusion. Cohort studies (115, 63%) and administrative data (114, 62%) were, respectively, the most common study design and data type used. Most studies used negative control outcomes (91, 50%), and for most studies the target source of bias was unmeasured confounding (93, 51%). We identified 4 utility domains of negative controls: 1) bias detection (149, 81%), 2) bias correction (16, 9%), 3) P-value calibration (8, 4%), and 4) performance assessment of different methods used in drug safety studies (31, 17%). The most popular methodologies used were the 95% confidence interval and P-value calibration. In addition, we identified 2 reference sets with structured steps to check the causality assumption of the negative control. While negative controls are powerful tools in bias detection, we found many studies lacked checking the underlying assumptions. This article is part of a Special Collection on Pharmacoepidemiology.
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Woodbury ML, Geiger SD, Schantz SL. The relationship of prenatal acetaminophen exposure and attention-related behavior in early childhood. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2024; 101:107319. [PMID: 38199313 PMCID: PMC11018143 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2024.107319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Acetaminophen is currently the only analgesic considered safe for use throughout pregnancy, but recent studies indicate that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen may be related to poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes. Multiple studies have suggested that it may be associated with attention problems, but few have examined this association by trimester of exposure. The Illinois Kids Development Study is a prospective birth cohort located in east-central Illinois. Exposure data were collected between December 2013 and March 2020, and 535 newborns were enrolled during that period. Mothers reported the number of times they took acetaminophen at six time points across pregnancy. When children were 2, 3, and 4 years of age, caregivers completed the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 1.5-5 years (CBCL). Associations of acetaminophen use during pregnancy with scores on the Attention Problems and ADHD Problems syndrome scales, the Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior composite scales, and the Total Problems score were evaluated. Higher acetaminophen exposure during the second trimester of fetal development was associated with higher Attention Problems, ADHD Problems, Externalizing Behavior, and Total Problems scores at ages 2 and 3. Higher second trimester exposure was only associated with higher Externalizing Behavior and Total Problems scores at 4 years. Higher cumulative exposure across pregnancy was associated with higher Attention Problems and ADHD Problems scores at ages 2 and 3. Findings suggest that prenatal acetaminophen exposure, especially during the second trimester, may be related to problems with attention in early childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Woodbury
- Neuroscience Program, University of IL at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America.
| | - Sarah D Geiger
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America; Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America.
| | - Susan L Schantz
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America; Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America.
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Spildrejorde M, Samara A, Sharma A, Leithaug M, Falck M, Modafferi S, Sundaram AY, Acharya G, Nordeng H, Eskeland R, Gervin K, Lyle R. Multi-omics approach reveals dysregulated genes during hESCs neuronal differentiation exposure to paracetamol. iScience 2023; 26:107755. [PMID: 37731623 PMCID: PMC10507163 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal paracetamol exposure has been associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood. Pharmacoepigenetic studies show differences in cord blood DNA methylation between unexposed and paracetamol-exposed neonates, however, causality and impact of long-term prenatal paracetamol exposure on brain development remain unclear. Using a multi-omics approach, we investigated the effects of paracetamol on an in vitro model of early human neurodevelopment. We exposed human embryonic stem cells undergoing neuronal differentiation with paracetamol concentrations corresponding to maternal therapeutic doses. Single-cell RNA-seq and ATAC-seq integration identified paracetamol-induced chromatin opening changes linked to gene expression. Differentially methylated and/or expressed genes were involved in neurotransmission and cell fate determination trajectories. Some genes involved in neuronal injury and development-specific pathways, such as KCNE3, overlapped with differentially methylated genes previously identified in cord blood associated with prenatal paracetamol exposure. Our data suggest that paracetamol may play a causal role in impaired neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Spildrejorde
- PharmaTox Strategic Research Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Athina Samara
- Division of Clinical Paediatrics, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Astrid Lindgren Children′s Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ankush Sharma
- Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Magnus Leithaug
- PharmaTox Strategic Research Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Martin Falck
- PharmaTox Strategic Research Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stefania Modafferi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Arvind Y.M. Sundaram
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ganesh Acharya
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Alfred Nobels Allé 8, SE-14152 Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Fetal Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hedvig Nordeng
- PharmaTox Strategic Research Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ragnhild Eskeland
- PharmaTox Strategic Research Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristina Gervin
- PharmaTox Strategic Research Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Research and Innovation, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Robert Lyle
- PharmaTox Strategic Research Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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Ricci C, Albanese CM, Pablo LA, Li J, Fatima M, Barrett K, Levis B, Brown HK. In utero acetaminophen exposure and child neurodevelopmental outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2023. [PMID: 36939050 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acetaminophen is a frequently used analgesic for pain and fever. There have been reports of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with in utero acetaminophen exposure. However, it is unclear whether this association is related directly to acetaminophen use, or the reasons for use. OBJECTIVES To summarise the literature on the association between in utero acetaminophen exposure and child neurodevelopmental outcomes, and assess the extent to which the association is due to confounding by indication. DATA SOURCES OVID for Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO, and EBSCO for CINAHL, from inception to August 18, 2022. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION We searched for peer-reviewed, English-language studies on in utero acetaminophen exposure and child neurodevelopmental outcomes. Data were extracted using a standardised form created a priori, and quality was assessed using the Systematic Assessment of Quality in Observational Research. SYNTHESIS We generated pooled risk ratios (RR) for outcomes examined by ≥3 studies using random-effects models; outcomes that could not be meta-analysed were narratively summarised following Synthesis Without Meta-Analysis guidelines. RESULTS Twenty-two studies including 23 cohorts were eligible (n = 367,775 total participants; median: 51.7% with acetaminophen exposure). Studies were primarily prospective cohort studies from Europe and the US, with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) being the most common outcome. Quality assessments resulted in 13.6% of studies being classified as high, 59.1% as medium, 22.7% as low, and 4.5% as very low quality. In utero acetaminophen exposure was associated with an elevated risk of ADHD (unadjusted pooled RR 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20, 1.44; I2 = 47%, n = 7 studies), with little difference after adjusting for confounders, including indications for acetaminophen use (adjusted pooled RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.15, 1.55; I2 = 50%, n = 4 studies). CONCLUSIONS Confounding by indication did not explain the association between in utero acetaminophen exposure and child ADHD. Further, high-quality research is needed on this and other neurodevelopmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Ricci
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Lesley A Pablo
- Department of Health & Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jiaying Li
- Department of Health & Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maryam Fatima
- Department of Health & Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kathryn Barrett
- Library, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brooke Levis
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Quebec, Montreal, Canada
| | - Hilary K Brown
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Health & Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Lye JM, Knight JA, Arneja J, Seeto RA, Wong J, Adel Khani N, Brooks JD, Levitan RD, Matthews SG, Lye SJ, Hung RJ. Maternal acetaminophen use and cognitive development at 4 years: the Ontario Birth Study. Pediatr Res 2023; 93:959-963. [PMID: 35794252 PMCID: PMC9261144 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-02182-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies have suggested a link between prenatal maternal acetaminophen use and adverse developmental outcomes in children. However, there exists a knowledge gap regarding overall cognitive development and use of acetaminophen, especially concerning the timing of use in pregnancy. This study aimed to characterize the relationship between maternal acetaminophen use and cognitive development at 4 years. METHODS This analysis included data collected throughout pregnancy and delivery from women in the Ontario Birth Study prospective cohort from 2013 to 2019 and from the NIH Toolbox Early Childhood Cognition battery administered to 4-year-old children between 2018 and 2021 (n = 436). The exposure was maternal acetaminophen use and the primary outcome was a cognition composite score. The relationship between exposure and outcome was determined using Poisson regression with a robust error variance. RESULTS We did not observe any association between maternal acetaminophen intake any time before or during pregnancy and low cognition composite score of offspring. The IRR of suboptimal overall cognition was 1.38 (0.78-2.45), 1.22 (0.67-2.22), 0.80 (0.44-1.47), and 1.56 (0.74-3.29) for maternal use of acetaminophen before, in early, late, or overall pregnancy, respectively. CONCLUSION Current data do not provide evidence to support a relationship of maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy with adverse cognitive effects at 4 years. IMPACT Acetaminophen use during pregnancy may influence the risk of child neurocognitive disorders, but there is conflicting evidence of its relationship to sub-clinical measures of cognitive development such as executive function. The study design allowed us to examine the role of timing of acetaminophen use in its relationship with cognitive development, based on a validated and standardized tablet-administered instrument for children, instead of a teacher or parent report. We did not observe a clear relationship between maternal acetaminophen use at different timepoints during pregnancy and child cognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Lye
- Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Julia A Knight
- Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jasleen Arneja
- Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ryan A Seeto
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jody Wong
- Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nadya Adel Khani
- Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer D Brooks
- Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Robert D Levitan
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen G Matthews
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen J Lye
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rayjean J Hung
- Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Sznajder KK, Teti DM, Kjerulff KH. Maternal use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and neurobehavioral problems in offspring at 3 years: A prospective cohort study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272593. [PMID: 36170224 PMCID: PMC9518858 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acetaminophen is one of the most commonly used drugs during pregnancy globally. Recent studies have reported associations between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and neurobehavioral problems in children, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders. Little research has investigated these associations in preschool-age children or the potential confounding effects of prenatal stress. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and offspring neurobehavioral problems at the age of 3 years, with a focus on the potentially confounding effects of prenatal stress. METHODS We used data from the First Baby Study, a prospective cohort study conducted in Pennsylvania, USA, with 2,423 mother-child pairs. Women reported medication use and completed a prenatal stress inventory during their third trimester. Child behavioral problems were measured at the age of 3 years, using the 7 syndrome scale scores from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for ages 1 ½ to 5. RESULTS There were 1,011 women (41.7%) who reported using acetaminophen during pregnancy. Children who were exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy scored significantly higher on 3 of the 7 CBCL syndrome scales: withdrawn, sleep problems and attention problems. Scores on all 7 of the CBCL syndrome scales were significantly associated with prenatal stress. After adjustment for prenatal stress and other confounders, 2 syndrome scales remained significantly higher in children exposed to acetaminophen: sleep problems (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.01-1.51) and attention problems (aOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.01-1.45). CONCLUSIONS These findings corroborate previous studies reporting associations between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and attention problems in offspring and also show an association with sleep problems at age 3 years. Because use of acetaminophen during pregnancy is common, these results are of public health concern and suggest caution in the use of medications containing acetaminophen during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin K. Sznajder
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Douglas M. Teti
- Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Kristen H. Kjerulff
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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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: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [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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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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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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11
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Rigobello C, Klein RM, Debiasi JD, Ursini LG, Michelin AP, Matsumoto AK, Barbosa DS, Moreira EG. Perinatal exposure to paracetamol: Dose and sex-dependent effects in behaviour and brain's oxidative stress markers in progeny. Behav Brain Res 2021; 408:113294. [PMID: 33836167 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Paracetamol (PAR) has been employed worldwide for pain and fever treatment during pregnancy and lactation. Epidemiologic studies have shown that exposure to PAR can increase the risk for developmental disorders, such as attention-deficit hyperactive disorder and autism spectrum disorder. This study aimed to investigate if gestational and lactational exposure to human-relevant doses of PAR could alter behavioural and brain oxidative stress parameters in the rat`s offspring. Wistar dams were gavaged daily with water or PAR (35 mg/kg/ or 350 mg/kg) during gestational day 6 to weaning (postnatal day 21). Behavioural assessments occurred at post-natal days 10 (nest seeking test), 27 (behavioural stereotypy) and 28 (three chamber sociability test and open field). Concentration of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were estimate in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum and cerebellum of 22-day-old rats. Compared to CON animals, males exposed to PAR during pregnancy and lactation augmented apomorphine-induced stereotyped behaviour (350 mg/kg) and ambulation in open-field test (35 mg/kg). Reduced exploratory behaviour in three chamber sociability test was observed in pups exposed to PAR at 350 mg/kg in both sexes. PAR treatment decreased hippocampal GSH level and striatal SOD activity in males exposed to 35 mg/kg, suggesting the vulnerability of these areas in PAR-induced developmental neurotoxicity. Findings suggest PAR use during pregnancy and lactation as a potential risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders with males being more susceptible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Rigobello
- Graduation Program in Health Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86038-350, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Moreno Klein
- Graduation Program in Health Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86038-350, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Juliana Diosti Debiasi
- Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Luis Guilherme Ursini
- Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Michelin
- Graduation Program in Health Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86038-350, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Andressa Keiko Matsumoto
- Graduation Program in Health Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86038-350, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Décio Sabbatini Barbosa
- Graduation Program in Health Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86038-350, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Estefânia Gastaldello Moreira
- Graduation Program in Health Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86038-350, Londrina, PR, Brazil; Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
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12
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Nawa N, Garrison-Desany HM, Kim Y, Ji Y, Hong X, Wang G, Pearson C, Zuckerman BS, Wang X, Surkan PJ. Maternal persistent marijuana use and cigarette smoking are independently associated with shorter gestational age. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2020; 34:696-705. [PMID: 32602574 PMCID: PMC7581539 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research assessing the effects of marijuana use on preterm birth has found mixed results, in part, due to lack of attention to the role of maternal tobacco smoking during pregnancy. OBJECTIVES The study objective was to investigate whether maternal marijuana use was independently associated with gestational age, preterm birth, and two preterm birth subtypes (spontaneous vs clinician-initiated). METHODS Participants included 8261 mother-newborn pairs from the Boston Birth Cohort. Information on gestational age was collected from electronic medical records. Marijuana use and tobacco smoking during pregnancy were assessed through a standard questionnaire after birth. Linear and log-linear regression models were used to assess associations between marijuana use with and without tobacco smoking during pregnancy and the outcomes of interest. RESULTS Of the 8261 mothers, 27.5% had preterm births. About 3.5% of mothers with term deliveries and 5.2% of mothers with preterm births used marijuana during pregnancy. Marijuana use and cigarette smoking were independently associated with a decrease in gestational age by 0.50 weeks (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.87, -0.13) and 0.52 weeks (95% CI -0.76, -0.28), respectively. Marijuana use during early or late pregnancy was associated with a similar decrease in gestational age by 0.50 weeks. When we examined the effects on the preterm birth subtypes, simultaneous marijuana use and tobacco smoking were associated with higher risk of spontaneous preterm birth (RR 1.64, 95% CI 1.23, 2.18). The elevated risk was not observed with clinician-initiated preterm birth. CONCLUSIONS In this high-risk US population, maternal marijuana use and cigarette smoking during pregnancy were independently associated with shorter gestational age. When we examined the effects on preterm birth subtypes, the elevated risk was only observed with spontaneous preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobutoshi Nawa
- Center on Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Medical Education Research and Development, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Henri M. Garrison-Desany
- Center on Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yoona Kim
- Center on Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yuelong Ji
- Center on Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Xiumei Hong
- Center on Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Guoying Wang
- Center on Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Colleen Pearson
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Barry S. Zuckerman
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xiaobin Wang
- Center on Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Pamela J. Surkan
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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13
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Parker SE, Werler MM. Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and neurodevelopment. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2020; 34:225-226. [PMID: 32201959 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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14
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Wood ME. Associations between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and child neurodevelopment: Truth, bias, or a bit of both? Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2020; 34:233-236. [PMID: 32086821 PMCID: PMC7259542 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mollie E. Wood
- Department of Epidemiology Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health Boston Massachusetts
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15
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Talge NM. Prenatal acetaminophen exposure and neurodevelopment: State of the evidence. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2020; 34:227-229. [PMID: 32072660 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Talge
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
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