Potential human teratogenicity of frequently prescribed drugs

Article Abstract:

Accurate evaluation of the teratogenic potential of commonly prescribed drugs (the chance that they can cause birth defects) is highly desirable, but determining the level of risk for a particular agent is not simple. Two ways of estimating such risks are compared: the TERIS rating system, a computerized data base; and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) system, which assigns one of five Pregnancy Categories to the agent in question. TERIS ratings do not consider the need for the particular drug treatment or other available options, while the FDA system balances risk against the potential benefits to the patient. To compare the two rating systems, five clinicians who were also research scientists independently assessed the teratogenic risk associated with 157 components of the outpatient medications most frequently prescribed in the US. Experimental, clinical, and epidemiological data were considered in determining the ratings. Results are presented in tabular form. Sufficient information could not be obtained to evaluate the teratogenic risk for forty-nine percent of the drugs. Of the 80 components for which enough information could be found, 74 (92 percent) were associated with a risk of ''none'' or ''minimal''. Two of the remaining drugs, tetracycline and doxycycline (which is related to tetracycline) had a high risk rating, due to their tendency to stain the baby teeth of infants whose mothers take these drugs in the last six months of pregnancy. The four agents associated with risks between minimal and moderate were the anticonvulsants carbamazepine and phenytoin, warfarin (an anticoagulant), and norethindrone (a hormone). Agreement between the FDA Pregnancy Categories system and the TERIS system was no better than chance for the 83 components evaluated by both systems. Overall, the fact that sufficient information could not be gathered to rate teratogenicity for almost half the most commonly prescribed drugs, is alarming. More research on this subject is clearly needed. Neither TERIS nor FDA ratings should be relied upon for therapeutic guidance; rather, several sources of information are needed for accurate assessment of teratogenicity. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Fetus, Surveys, Pregnant women, Dosage and administration, Drug use, Teratogenic agents

---

Haemophilus influenzae: an important cause of maternal and neonatal infections

Article Abstract:

Haemophilus influenzae is a bacterial organism that commonly infects infants and young children. Hemophilus infection of the genital and urinary tracts in the mother can be transmitted to a newborn. H. influenzae can cause neonatal sepsis, or infection of the blood in the newborn; meningitis, the inflammation of the meninges, which are membranes surrounding the spinal cord and brain; pneumonia; arthritis, or inflammatory joint disease; and eye infections. The frequency and types of infections caused by H. influenzae in the mother and newborn were assessed. The records from a microbiology laboratory of all mothers and newborns infected with H. influenzae over a 10-year period were reviewed. There were 28 pairs of mothers and neonates, in which at least one of the pair had H. influenzae infection. Of 18 infected mothers, 13 developed inflammation of the chorionic and amniotic membranes, which surround the fetus, or inflammation of the endometrium, the mucous membrane lining the inner surface of the uterus. Two of the 13 women with inflammatory disease also developed bacteremia, bacterial infection of the blood. Of 23 infected newborns, 15 had early sepsis or pneumonia, and nine had inflammation of the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane lining the eyelids and surface of eyeball. Bacteremia was also caused by Escherichia coli and group B streptococci. The infection of the mother was strongly associated with infection of her newborn. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Infection, Complications and side effects, Demographic aspects, Infants (Newborn), Newborn infants, Hemophilus infections

---

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Epidemiological and laboratory studies of power frequency electric and magnetic fields. How Do Observational Studies Expand the Evidence Base for Therapy?
• Abstracts: Total hip and total knee replacement. Sonication of removed hip and knee prostheses for diagnosis of infection
• Abstracts: Prevention and treatment of nerve gas poisoning. Treatment of nerve gas poisoning. Gamma hydroxy butyrate poisoning
• Abstracts: Esophageal motility in children with Hirschsprung's disease. The Children's Vaccine Initiative
• Abstracts: Bile porphyrin analysis in the evaluation of variegate porphyria. Evaluation of dementia

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.