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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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Sappler M, Hammerl M, Pellkofer Y, Griesmaier E, Höck M, Janjic T, Gizewski ER, Kiechl-Kohlendorfer U, Neubauer V. Prophylactic Low-Dose Paracetamol Administration for Ductal Closure and Microstructural Brain Development in Preterm Infants. Neonatology 2022; 119:361-369. [PMID: 35176741 DOI: 10.1159/000521948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Prophylactic low-dose paracetamol administration is used to induce closure of the ductus arteriosus. Effects on the neurological outcome in preterm infants remain unknown. We compared microstructural brain development in very preterm infants with and without exposure to prophylactic paracetamol by using MR-based diffusion tensor imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS Infants aged <32 gestational weeks born between October 2014 and December 2018 received prophylactic paracetamol (10 mg/kg intravenously every 8 h until echocardiography after at least 72 h) and form the paracetamol group; infants born between February 2011 and September 2014 form the control group. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) at term-equivalent age were measured in 14 defined cerebral regions and compared between the groups. RESULTS Included in the study were 340 infants, of whom 217 received prophylactic paracetamol, and 123 formed the control group. The paracetamol group showed significantly higher FA values and lower ADC values in the splenium of the corpus callosum, as well as higher FA values in the pons bilaterally, the left middle cerebellar peduncle, the right occipital white matter, and the right posterior limb of the internal capsule (p ≤ 0.02). CONCLUSION The perceived safety of prenatal paracetamol exposure has been questioned in recent years. We found no impairment on microstructural maturation processes in the brain of preterm infants at term-equivalent age following early paracetamol administration. The clinical relevance of these imaging findings has to be determined in long-term follow-up studies on neurodevelopmental outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sappler
- Department of Pediatrics II, Neonatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria,
| | - Marlene Hammerl
- Department of Pediatrics II, Neonatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Yasmin Pellkofer
- Department of Pediatrics II, Neonatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Elke Griesmaier
- Department of Pediatrics II, Neonatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michaela Höck
- Department of Pediatrics II, Neonatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Tanja Janjic
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Elke Ruth Gizewski
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Vera Neubauer
- Department of Pediatrics II, Neonatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Koehn LM, Huang Y, Habgood MD, Nie S, Chiou SY, Banati RB, Dziegielewska KM, Saunders NR. Efflux transporters in rat placenta and developing brain: transcriptomic and functional response to paracetamol. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19878. [PMID: 34615937 PMCID: PMC8494792 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99139-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenosine triphosphate binding cassette (ABC) transporters transfer lipid-soluble molecules across cellular interfaces either directly or after enzymatic metabolism. RNAseq analysis identified transcripts for ABC transporters and enzymes in rat E19, P5 and adult brain and choroid plexus and E19 placenta. Their functional capacity to efflux small molecules was studied by quantitative analysis of paracetamol (acetaminophen) and its metabolites using liquid scintillation counting, autoradiography and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Animals were treated acutely (30 min) and chronically (5 days, twice daily) with paracetamol (15 mg/kg) to investigate ability of brain and placenta barriers to regulate ABC transport functionality during extended treatment. Results indicated that transcripts of many efflux-associated ABC transporters were higher in adult brain and choroid plexus than at earlier ages. Chronic treatment upregulated certain transcripts only in adult brain and altered concentrations of paracetamol metabolites in circulation of pregnant dams. Combination of changes to metabolites and transport system transcripts may explain observed changes in paracetamol entry into adult and fetal brains. Analysis of lower paracetamol dosing (3.75 mg/kg) indicated dose-dependent changes in paracetamol metabolism. Transcripts of ABC transporters and enzymes at key barriers responsible for molecular transport into the developing brain showed alterations in paracetamol pharmacokinetics in pregnancy following different treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Koehn
- Department of Biochemistry & Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Y Huang
- Department of Biochemistry & Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - M D Habgood
- Department of Biochemistry & Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - S Nie
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - S Y Chiou
- Department of Biochemistry & Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - R B Banati
- ANSTO - Australia's Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Rd, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia.,University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, Australia
| | - K M Dziegielewska
- Department of Biochemistry & Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - N R Saunders
- Department of Biochemistry & Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia. .,Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
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Mian P, Nolan B, van den Anker JN, van Calsteren K, Allegaert K, Lakhi N, Dallmann A. Mechanistic Coupling of a Novel in silico Cotyledon Perfusion Model and a Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model to Predict Fetal Acetaminophen Pharmacokinetics at Delivery. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:733520. [PMID: 34631628 PMCID: PMC8496351 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.733520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about placental drug transfer and fetal pharmacokinetics despite increasing drug use in pregnant women. While physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models can help in some cases to shed light on this knowledge gap, adequate parameterization of placental drug transfer remains challenging. A novel in silico model with seven compartments representing the ex vivo cotyledon perfusion assay was developed and used to describe placental transfer and fetal pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen. Unknown parameters were optimized using observed data. Thereafter, values of relevant model parameters were copied to a maternal-fetal PBPK model and acetaminophen pharmacokinetics were predicted at delivery after oral administration of 1,000 mg. Predictions in the umbilical vein were evaluated with data from two clinical studies. Simulations from the in silico cotyledon perfusion model indicated that acetaminophen accumulates in the trophoblasts; simulated steady state concentrations in the trophoblasts were 4.31-fold higher than those in the perfusate. The whole-body PBPK model predicted umbilical vein concentrations with a mean prediction error of 24.7%. Of the 62 concentration values reported in the clinical studies, 50 values (81%) were predicted within a 2-fold error range. In conclusion, this study presents a novel in silico cotyledon perfusion model that is structurally congruent with the placenta implemented in our maternal-fetal PBPK model. This allows transferring parameters from the former model into our PBPK model for mechanistically exploring whole-body pharmacokinetics and concentration-effect relationships in the placental tissue. Further studies should investigate acetaminophen accumulation and metabolism in the placenta as the former might potentially affect placental prostaglandin synthesis and subsequent fetal exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Mian
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Bridget Nolan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, NY, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - John N. van den Anker
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
- Department of Pediatric Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, University Children's Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kristel van Calsteren
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, UZ Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karel Allegaert
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Nisha Lakhi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, NY, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - André Dallmann
- Pharmacometrics/Modeling and Simulation, Research and Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany
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Juujärvi S, Saarela T, Hallman M, Aikio O. Trial of paracetamol for premature newborns: five-year follow-up. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2021; 35:5210-5212. [PMID: 33478294 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2021.1875444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Paracetamol is a commonly used pain medication for the very-high risk neonates and it is increasingly being used for patent ductus arteriosus treatment in preterm infants. However, randomized trial data on long-term consequences are not yet available, but there is some evidence of serious adverse effects on children exposed to paracetamol during pregnancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS A five-year follow-up study of a placebo-controlled paracetamol trial on very preterm infants (PreParaS) was conducted (n = 48). Using a web-based parental questionnaire, parents answered questions about their children's cardiac and respiratory symptoms, allergies, neurodevelopment, infections, medications and hospitalizations. RESULTS Most parents reported that their child had normal development (paracetamol 79% vs. placebo 65%). Physician-diagnosed asthma or allergy (paracetamol 10.5% vs. placebo 25.0%), or hospitalization due to respiratory symptoms (0 vs. 15%) were uncommon and neurological or neuro-psychiatric symptoms were rare. CONCLUSIONS Current follow-up results on paracetamol-exposed very preterm infants may not be alarming suggesting that paracetamol administration shortly after birth is not associated with common adverse consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanna Juujärvi
- PEDEGO Research Unit and MRC Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Timo Saarela
- PEDEGO Research Unit and MRC Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Mikko Hallman
- PEDEGO Research Unit and MRC Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Outi Aikio
- PEDEGO Research Unit and MRC Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
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