The estimation of human teratogenic/fetotoxic risk of exposures to drugs on the basis of Hungarian experience: a critical evaluation of clinical and epidemiological models of human teratology

Spectrum of uropathogens and their susceptibility to antimicrobials in pregnant women: a retrospective analysis of 5-year hospital data

OBJECTIVE

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are common during pregnancy. Identification of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of microorganisms in pregnant women is important to select the most appropriate antimicrobial. We assessed common uropathogens in pregnant women with UTI and antimicrobial susceptibility, to guide empirical antibiotic selection.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we analyzed mid-stream urine culture and antibiotic susceptibility data from pregnant women who attended Jordan University Hospital during 2014 to 2018. Data were collected from patients' charts and urine cultures, and sensitivity results were extracted from the laboratory electronic system. We calculated descriptive statistics and determined correlations among pathogens and antibiotics.

RESULTS

We examined 612 positive urine cultures from 559 pregnant women, including 163 (29.2%) inpatients. Escherichia coli (29.4%) was the most frequently identified microorganism, followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (21.6%). All bacterial isolates were sensitive to aztreonam, chloramphenicol, fosfomycin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, piperacillin, and colistin sulfate; 87.5% were sensitive to amikacin. Only 15.79%, 18.93%, and 17.91% were sensitive to oxacillin, nalidixic acid, and erythromycin, respectively.

CONCLUSION

E. coli and CoNS were the most commonly identified microorganisms in this study. We found increased antibiotic resistance in Enterobacter species. The chosen antimicrobial therapy in pregnancy should be determined by sensitivity/resistance and fetomaternal safety.

Beliefs and Risk Awareness on Medications Among Pregnant Women Attending the Antenatal Care Unit in Ethiopia University Hospital. Overestimating the Risks Is Another Dread

Background: Most studies on drug use during pregnancy were generally focused on potential teratogenic effects. However, beliefs and risk awareness of medications can also influence medication use and fetal well-being. Objective: This study aimed at assessing the risk awareness and beliefs on medication use among pregnant women attending antenatal care unit in an Ethiopian university hospital. Method: A cross-sectional study was employed in pregnant women who were attending for antenatal care service at Gondar University Referral Hospital from March 15, to April 15, 2016. A pretested structured interview questionnaire adopted from the Beliefs About Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) was used for data collection. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to identify possible predictors influencing the outcome variables. Result: Of the 423 women approached, 384 agreed to complete the questionnaire (90.8% response rate), and the mean age of the participants was 27.22 ± 5.5 years. More than two-thirds of the respondents had two to three (46.1%) or greater than three (25.8%) pregnancy histories. A third and nearly half (45.6%) of the respondents were on the first trimester and second trimester of their gestational age, respectively. The majority (70%) of pregnant women thought all drugs are harmful if taken during pregnancy. Only few (4.2%) of the participants did not mind taking drugs without professional advice. Most (90%) of the respondents were not willing to take drugs without professional advice. Pregnant women who came from rural areas had 25% less likelihood to self-medicate, with an adjusted odds ratio of 95% CI, 0.75 (0.37, 0.96). Conclusion: In this study, overestimated and exaggerated beliefs of medication risks during pregnancy are a concern, though cautious drug use is necessary and warranted. Adequate counseling has to be provided by physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals to change pregnant women's conservative attitudes and misinformed beliefs on medication risk.

Maternal factors in the origin of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: A population-based case-control study

In most patients affected by isolated infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) the etiology is largely unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate possible maternal risk factors in the origin of IHPS. The study samples included 241 cases with IHPS, 357 matched controls and 38,151 population controls without any defect in the population-based large dataset of the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities, 1980-1996. Exposures that had been medically recorded in prenatal maternity logbooks during the critical period of IHPS were evaluated separately. The findings of this case-control study suggested that--beyond the well-known robust male excess (85.5%)--maternal hyperthyroidism (OR with 95% CI: 4.17, 1.53-11.38) and oral nalidixic acid treatment (OR with 95% CI: 6.53, 3.03-14.06) associated with a higher risk for IHPS in their children. In conclusion, our findings suggest that cases with IHPS had mothers with a higher proportion of hyperthyroidism and nalidixic acid treatment during pregnancy.

Risk Perception in Pregnancy

Despite huge advances in obstetric management and technology in recent decades, there has not been an accompanying decrease in patients’ perception of risk during pregnancy. The aim of this paper is to examine the context of risk perception in pregnancy and what practitioners can do to manage it. The modern pregnancy may induce a heightened perception of risk due to increased prenatal testing and surveillance, medico-legal complexity, fertility treatment, and the increasing use of the internet and social media as a source of information. The consequences of an inflated perception of risk during pregnancy include stress, anxiety, and depression, and these issues may have long-lasting implications for patients, their babies, and their families. There are numerous resilience and vulnerability factors that can help care providers identify those who may be predisposed to increased risk perception in pregnancy, and there is a role for both obstetric care providers and psychologists engaged in obstetric settings to manage and reduce risk perception in patients where possible. Ultimately, the medical management of risk during pregnancy can be complex but a thorough understanding of the social and emotional context can assist providers to support their patients through both high- and low-risk pregnancy and birth.

Distribution of maternal age and birth order groups in cases with unclassified multiple congenital abnormalities according to the number of component abnormalities: a national population-based case-control study

BACKGROUND

Multiple congenital abnormalities are caused by chromosomal aberrations, mutant major genes and teratogens. A minor proportion of these patients are identified as syndromes but the major part belonging to the group of unclassified multiple CAs (UMCAs). The main objective of this study was to evaluate the maternal age and birth order in pregnant women who had offspring affected with UMCA. The strong association between numerical chromosomal aberrations, e.g., Down syndrome and advanced maternal age is well-known and tested here.

METHODS

The Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities, 1980 to 1996, yielded a large population-based national data set with 22,843 malformed newborns or fetuses ("informative cases") included 1349 UMCA cases with their 2407 matched controls. Case-control comparison of maternal age and birth order was made for cases with UMCA, stratified by component numbers and their controls. In addition, 834 cases with Down syndrome were compared to 1432 matched controls.

RESULTS

The well-known advanced maternal age with the higher risk for Down syndrome was confirmed. The findings of the study suggest that the young age of mothers associates with the higher risk of UMCA, in addition birth order 4 or more associates with the higher risk for UMCA with 2 and 3 component CAs.

CONCLUSION

This study was the first to analyze the possible maternal and birth order effect for cases with UMCA, and the young age and higher birth order associated with a higher risk for UMCA.

Maternal risk factors in the origin of isolated hypospadias: a population-based case-control study

The birth prevalence of hypospadias increased in Hungary during the last decades, thus the aim of this study was to analyze the possible role of maternal risk factors in the origin of isolated hypospadias (IHS). The incidence/prevalence of acute and chronic maternal diseases with related drug treatments were compared in the mothers of cases with IHS, population controls without defect and malformed controls affected with other isolated abnormalities in the population-based Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities including 3038 cases with IHS, 24 814 population male controls without any defects and 11 096 malformed male controls with other isolated defect. Among exposures, prospective medically recorded chronic diseases and medically recorded or retrospective maternal information regarding acute diseases and drug treatments were evaluated in the study groups. Maternal epilepsy due to the treatment of valproate (odds ratio [OR] with 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.97, 1.07-3.61) and cervical erosion (4.09, 1.84-9.12) were associated with a higher risk of IHS. In addition, there was an association of oral nystatin (1.94, 1.22-3.09), lynestrenol (26.66, 8.69-81.80) and ethynilestradiol (3.51, 1.61-7.67) treatments in the mothers of cases with a higher risk for IHS. In conclusion, maternal cervical erosion, valproate, nystatin, lynestrenol and ethynilestradiol associated with a higher risk for IHS.

50 years of the Hungarian Congenital Abnormality Registry

The mandatory notification of patients ("cases") with different congenital abnormalities (CAs) diagnosed from birth until the end of the first postnatal year by medical doctors was ordered by the Ministry of Health in Hungary in 1962 and this CA-registry was continued as the Hungarian Congenital Abnormality Registry (HCAR) based on the international recommendation from 1970. The primary objective of the HCAR has been to determine the baseline birth prevalence rate of different CAs as reliably as possible, with three secondary objectives: (i) to detect temporal and/or spatial clusters of CAs; (ii) to evaluate increasing or decreasing time trends of CAs; and (iii) to assist in the planning of medical and social services for children and families affected by CA so that appropriate resources are allocated efficiently and effectively. This paper summarizes the activities and the evolution of the HCAR over the past 50 years (1962-2011) including the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities for postmarketing surveillance of drug teratogenicity and prevention of CAs; the special evaluation of unidentified multiple CAs; the Hungarian Surveillance of Germinal Mutations and several international collaborations. In conclusion, Hungary enjoyed optimal conditions for the HCAR due to a centralized state health system; all deliveries took place in inpatient clinics; the quality of pediatric care was high and pediatricians notified most CAs. Autopsy was mandatory in infant death, the staff of the HCAR did not consider this CA-registry only as a statistical system but the Hungarian Center for Congenital Anomaly Control and the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities based on the HCAR worked with close collaboration with the parents in order to promote the possible good quality of life of their affected children and to prevent their risk of recurrence.

Risk factors in the origin of congenital left-ventricular outflow-tract obstruction defects of the heart: a population-based case-control study

The aim of our project was to study possible etiological factors in the origin of congenital heart defects (CHDs) because in the majority of patients the underlying causes are unclear. Cases with different CHD entities as homogeneously as possible were planned for evaluation in the population-based large data set of the Hungarian Case Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities. Dead or surgically corrected 302 live-born cases with different types of left-ventricular outflow tract obstructive defects (LVOT, i.e., valvular aortic stenosis 76, hypoplastic left heart syndrome 76, coarctation of the aorta 113, and other congenital anomalies of aorta 32) were compared with 469 matched controls, 38,151 controls without any defects, and 20,750 malformed controls with other isolated defects. Medically recorded pregnancy complications and chronic diseases were evaluated based on prenatal maternity logbooks, whereas acute diseases, drug treatments, and folic acid/multivitamin supplementation were analyzed both on the basis of retrospective maternal information and medical records. The results of the study showed the role of maternal diabetes in the origin of LVOT in general, while panic disorder was associated with a higher risk of hypoplastic left heart syndrome and ampicillin treatment with a higher risk of coarctation of the aorta (COA). High doses of folic acid had a protective effect regarding the manifestation of LVOT, particularly COA. In conclusion, only a minor portion of causes was shown in our study; thus, further studies are needed to understand better the underlying causal factors in the origin of LVOT.

[Abnormal hepatic function tests in pregnancy: causes and consequences]

The well-known normal ranges of laboratory parameters are altered due to the broad spectrum of physiological changes as well as proinflammatory and procoagulant effects of pregnancy. Hepatic disorders of any aetiology can cause potential problems during gravidity. Most frequently toxic-effects, hepatotrop viruses (such as hepatitis B and C), metabolic syndrome and diseases with autoimmune background can be observed. When dealing with "pregnancy-specific hepatic syndromes", it is very important to consider the "timing-factors" of pathologic changes and deterioration of clinical pictures as well. Due to the progress in cholestasis management, early termination of pregnancy can be avoided in many cases. As the overlap is really broad between various hepatic disorders, a multidisciplinary cooperation of different sub-disciplines is emphasized in order to achieve proper diagnosis and curative measures at early phase.

Interpretation of controversial teratogenic findings of drugs such as phenobarbital

Objective. To check the debated association between phenobarbital treatment during pregnancy and risk for congenital abnormalities (CAs) in their children. Study Design. It is a comparison of phenobarbital treatment in the mothers of cases with CA and matched controls without CAs in the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance System of Congenital Abnormalities. Results. Of 22,843 cases with CA, 149 (0.65%) had mothers with phenobarbital treatment, while of 38,151 control newborn infants without CA, 209 (0.55%) were born to mothers with phenobarbital treatment (100-400 mg daily) (OR with 95% CI : 1.3, 1.1-1.7). Of 16 CA groups, only hypospadias had a higher risk after phenobarbital treatment in the critical period of this CA (OR with 95% CI : 2.4, 1.1-5.4). However, if only medically recorded phenobarbital treatments were evaluated and multiple testing bias was considered, this association would disappear. Conclusions. This study stresses the importance of the exclusion of recall bias and multiple testing bias.

Association of drug treatments in pregnant women with the risk of external ear congenital abnormalities in their offspring: a population-based case-control study

The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible association of drug treatments in pregnant women with a higher risk of congenital abnormalities of the external ear, particularly microtia/anotia, in their children. The frequency of drug treatments was compared in the mothers of cases with isolated or multiple (syndromic) ear abnormalities and in the mothers of three different controls: controls matched to cases, all controls (these controls had no defects) and malformed controls in the population-based large dataset of the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities. There was no significantly higher use of any drug in the mothers of 354 cases with isolated external ear abnormalities than in the mothers of different controls. However, of 156 cases with multiple ear abnormalities, 11 had mothers with hydroxyethylrutosidea treatment and a characteristic pattern of congenital abnormalities was found in these children. Four cases with multiple ear abnormalities were born to epileptic mothers treated with valproate, phenytoin and polytherapy in two cases. Drug treatments are not important in the origin of isolated ear abnormalities. However, a higher risk of multiple ear abnormalities was found in children born to mothers with treatment of hydroxyethylrutosidea or antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy.

Distribution of multiple congenital abnormalities including anotia and microtia

To evaluate cases with unclassified multiple congenital abnormalities including microtia and anotia as component congenital abnormalities in order to reveal the characteristic pattern of other associated component congenital abnormalities and to make an attempt to establish a registry diagnosis on the pattern of associated congenital abnormalities and to stimulate the establishment of an international registry of cases with unclassified multiple congenital abnormalities comprising of microtia and anotia. Methods: The large population-based dataset of the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities, 1980–1996. Results: A total of 156 cases with unclassified multiple congenital abnormalities including microtia and anotia were analyzed according to the number of 2–9 component congenital abnormalities. The comparison of the distribution and frequency of component congenital abnormalities in these cases showed significant differences from the data of other unclassified multiple congenital abnormalities. Of the 156 cases, registry diagnosis was possible in 48 (30.8%) cases. Conclusions: The evaluation of available dataset of unclassified multiple anotia and microtia may help the delineation of new syndromes and associations with better prognosis and recurrence risk estimation, thus finally a better chance for their prevention. Orv. Hetil., 2011, 152, 1399–1416.

Drug use in pregnancy: Knowledge of drug dispensers and pregnant women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

More than 90% of pregnant women take prescription or non-prescription drugs at some time during pregnancy. In general, unless absolutely necessary, drugs should not be used during pregnancy because many of them are harmful to the fetus. Appropriate dispensing is one of the steps for rational drug use; so, it is necessary that drug dispensers should have relevant and updated knowledge and skills regarding drug use in pregnancy. To assess the knowledge of drug dispensers and pregnant women regarding drug use in pregnancy, focusing on four commonly used drugs that are teratogenic or cause unwanted effects to the fetus and babies. The study was conducted in two parts: consumers′ perception and providers′ practice. It was a cross-sectional study involving visits to 200 private retail community pharmacies (as simulated client) within Temeke, Ilala and Kinondoni municipals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The second part of the study was conducted at the antenatal clinics of the three municipal hospitals in Dar es Salaam. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather information from pregnant women. In total, 200 pregnant women were interviewed. Out of 200 drug dispensers, 86 (43%) were willing to dispense artemether-lumefantrine (regardless of the age of pregnancy), 56 (29%) were willing to dispense sodium valproate, 104 (52%) were willing to dispense captopril and 50 (25%) were willing to dispense tetracycline. One hundred and thirty-three (66.5%) pregnant women reported that they hesitated to take medications without consulting their physicians, 47 (23.5%) indicated that it was safe to take medications during pregnancy, while 123 (61.5%) mentioned that it was best to consult a doctor, while 30 (15%) did not have any preference. Sixty-three (31.5%) women reported that they were aware of certain drugs that are contraindicated during pregnancy. It is evident that most drug dispensers have low knowledge regarding the harmful effects of drugs during pregnancy. Drug dispensing personnel should be considered part of the therapeutic chain and, if appropriately trained, they will play a very important role in promoting rational use of medicines.

The over-estimation of risk in pregnancy

The concept of risk is especially salient to obstetric care. Unknown factors can still be responsible for peri-natal morbidity and mortality in circumstances that appeared to present little risk, while perfectly healthy infants are born in high-risk circumstances: a contradiction that patients and providers struggle with on a daily basis. With such contradictions comes the potential for the over-estimation of risk during pregnancy in order to assure a positive outcome. Understanding and addressing the estimation of risk during pregnancy requires acknowledging the history of obstetric risk in addition to understanding risk-related psychological theory. A relationship of trust between provider and patient is vital in addressing risk over-estimation, as is encouraging the development of self-efficacy in patients. Ultimately obstetric care is complex and efforts to avoid pre-natal risk exposure based on heightened perceptions of threat may do more harm than the perceived threat itself.

Is there a reduction of congenital abnormalities in the offspring of diabetic pregnant women after folic acid supplementation? A population-based case-control study

The objective of the present study was to estimate the preventive effect of folic acid for structural birth defects (i.e. congenital abnormalities [CAs]) in the offspring of pregnant women with diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM-1). The occurrence of medically recorded DM-1 in pregnant women who had malformed fetuses/newborns (cases) and delivered healthy babies (controls) with or without folic acid supplementation was compared in the population-based Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance System of Congenital Abnormalities. The case group included 22,843 offspring, and there were 79 (0.35%) pregnant women with DM-1, while the control group comprised of 38,151 newborns, and 88 (0.23%) had mothers with DM-1. Case mothers with DM-1 associated with a higher risk of total rate of CAs in their offspring (OR with 95% CI: 1.5, 1.1-2.0) compared to the total rate of CAs in the offspring of non-diabetic case mothers. This higher risk can be explained by four specific types/groups of CAs: isolated renal a/dysgenesis; obstructive CA of the urinary tract; cardiovascular CAs; and multiple CAs, namely caudal dysplasia sequence. However, there was no higher rate of total CAs in the children of pregnant women with DM-1 after folic acid supplementation; in addition, neural-tube defect and renal a/dysgenesis did not occur. However, this benefit cannot be explained by the CA reduction effect of folic acid during the critical period of major CAs. In conclusion, there was a certain reduction in maternal teratogenic effect of DM-1 after folic acid supplementation during pregnancy, but the explanation of this effect requires further study.

A possible association between maternal otitis media and ear defect in their offspring

BACKGROUND

The possible association between otitis media in pregnancy (OMP) and structural birth defects, that is, congenital abnormalities (CAs), in their offspring has not been studied.

METHODS

The data set of the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities, 1980 and 1996, was evaluated.

RESULTS

There were 58 (0.25%) and 55 (0.14%) of 22 843 cases and 38 151 controls with mothers who had OMP, respectively. There was association of OMP and a higher risk of ear CA.

CONCLUSIONS

A possible explanation for the association of OMP with higher risk of ear CA may be some morphological deviation of the inner ear.

A study of the risk of mental retardation among children of pregnant women who have attempted suicide by means of a drug overdose

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to estimate the effect on the fetal development of high doses of prescription drugs taken as a suicide attempt during pregnancy.

METHODS

Pregnant women were identified among self-poisoned females in the toxicological inpatient clinic in Budapest between 1960 and 1993. Congenital abnormalities, intrauterine development based on birth weight and post-conceptional age, mental retardation, cognitive-behavioral status were compared in exposed children born to mothers who had attempted suicide by means of a drug overdose during pregnancy with their siblings, born either before or after the affected pregnancy, as sib controls.

RESULTS

Of a total of 1 044 pregnant women, 74 used the combination of amobarbital, glutethimide and promethazine (Tardyl®, one of the most popular drugs for treatment of insomnia in Hungary) for suicide attempt. Of these 74 women, 27 delivered live-born babies. The mean dose of Tardyl® used for suicide attempts was 24 times the usually prescribed clinical dose. The rate of congenital abnormalities and intrauterine retardation was not higher in exposed children than in their sib controls. However, of the 27 exposed children, eight (29.6%) were mentally retarded (X²₁=79.7, p= Sig) while mental retardation did not occur among 46 sib controls. These exposed children were born to mothers who attempted suicide with Tardyl® between the 14th and 20th post-conceptional weeks. The components of Tardyl® used separately for a suicide attempt during pregnancy were not associated with a higher risk of mental retardation. Therefore the high doses of Tardyl® associated with the high risk for mental retardation may be due to the interaction of its three drug components.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the study showed that the high doses of a drug containing three components may be associated with a significantly increased risk for mental retardation without any structural defects, whereas each of these three component drugs taken alone was not associated with this adverse effect.

Peptic ulcer disease with related drug treatment in pregnant women and congenital abnormalities in their offspring

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a common disease which can also occur in pregnant women. However, the possible association of PUD and related drug treatments in pregnant women with the risk of structural birth defects (i.e. congenital abnormalities [CA]) in their offspring has not been estimated in controlled population-based epidemiological studies. Thus, the prevalence of PUD in pregnant women who later delivered babies (cases) with different CA and in pregnant women who delivered newborns without CA (controls) was compared in the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities. Controls were matched to cases. Of 22,843 cases with congenital abnormalities, 182 (0.80%) had mothers with reported/recorded PUD, while of 38,151 controls, 261 (0.68%) were born to mothers with reported/recorded PUD. However, PUD(?) based on maternal information and/or unspecified diagnostic criteria, and PUD(!) based on endoscopic diagnosis showed different variables of mothers and newborn infants. Thus, finally, 20 case mothers and 58 control mothers with PUD(!) and related drugs were evaluated in detail. There was no higher risk for total CA group in the offspring of mothers with PUD during pregnancy (adjusted OR with 95% CI: 0.6, 0.3-0.9). Specific CA groups in cases were also assessed versus controls, but specified CA had no higher risk in the offspring of pregnant women with PUD and related drug treatments. In conclusion, a higher rate of CA was not found in the offspring of mothers with PUD.

Attempted suicide and pregnancy

BACKGROUND

The aim of the Budapest Monitoring System of Self-Poisoning Pregnant Women was to evaluate the potential congenital abnormality inducing effect of extremely large doses of drugs among pregnant women who attempted suicide. This system was appropriate to describe the characteristics of these pregnant women as a secondary finding from this model.

METHODS

All self-poisoned patients were cared for at a toxicological inpatient clinic in Budapest, between 1960 and 1993. Of a total of 1,044 pregnant women identified from the three different periods of the project, only 19 (1.8%) died. Women who survived were visited at home to reveal birth outcomes, and their exposed children were examined medically to identify congenital abnormalities and tested to estimate their cognitive-behavioral status. The previous or subsequent children of these pregnant women were used as controls with a similar examination protocol.

RESULTS

In general, self-poisoned pregnant women were young (peak age was between 18 and 20 years), 62% had their first pregnancy, 55% were unmarried, they had lower socioeconomic status, 46% were smokers and 22.5% drinkers, but depression/panic disorder occurred only among 17 pregnant women. Suicide attempts with drugs were most frequent in the fourth post-conceptional week and second month of pregnancy. In general they used smaller doses of drugs for suicide than non-pregnant age-matched women. Of 1,044 self-poisoned pregnant women, 926 had known pregnancy outcomes and 411 (44.4%) delivered live-born babies.

CONCLUSIONS

The self-poisoning model appears to have several benefits (e.g., dose-response estimation of drugs) in comparison with other methods when evaluating teratogenic/fetotoxic effect of drugs. It is suggested that an international monitoring system of self-poisoned pregnant women should be established to provide a larger data base. ‎

Congenital abnormalities in children of 43 pregnant women who attempted suicide with large doses of nitrazepam

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the teratogenic effect of very large doses of nitrazepam in children born to pregnant women who attempted suicide and to check the feasibility of self-poisoning pregnant women model.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Comparative analysis of exposed children and their unexposed sibs born to the same mothers who attempted suicide during the study pregnancy and admitted to the toxicological inpatients clinic, Budapest, 1960-1993.

STUDY PARTICIPANTS

Of 1044 pregnant women who attempted suicide, 107 (10.3%) used large doses of nitrazepam alone or combination with other drugs, and 43 delivered live-born babies, these exposed children were evaluated.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES

Structural birth defects, i.e., congenital abnormalities (CAs), pregnancy age at delivery, and birth weight.

RESULTS

The mean dose of nitrazepam used for suicide attempt was 204 mg. Of 43 exposed children, 13 (30.2%) were affected with CAs, while of their 29 sib controls, 3 (10.3%) (OR with 95%CI: 3.8, 1.0-14.6). Most CAs in exposed children were mild and belonged to the deformation type. The mean pregnancy age was shorter.

CONCLUSIONS

The very large doses of nitrazepam used for suicide attempt during pregnancy resulted in a high rate of CAs which may be connected with the disruption of protein metabolism in fetal mesenchyma. The self-poisoning pregnant women model is feasible for the evaluation of teratogenic effect of drugs.