Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Venlafaxine in Early Pregnancy and Risk of Birth Defects: Population Based Cohort Study and Sibling Design

ABSTRACT: In North America, 4% to 10% of pregnant women take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression. Some studies have reported an increased risk of congenital cardiovascular defects in the infants delivered to women who used SSRIs during pregnancy, although studies on these and other risks have yielded conflicting results. A previous study also reported that venlafaxine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor used as an alternative to SSRIs, was associated with some birth defects, but there are limitations in previous study on both SSRIs and venlafaxine, and further study is needed. The current study aimed to evaluate the association between the use of these drugs and risk of specific birth defects. The study population included women who gave birth to a live singleton in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden between 1996 and 2010. Data came from national registries. Exposure in utero was defined as instances when a woman filed a prescription for SSRI from 30 days before the first day of her last period to 97 days after the last period. Birth defects assessed included a range of cardiovascular defects as well as anal atresia, hypospadias, clubfoot, limb reduction defects, craniosynostosis, omphalocele, gastroschisis, and cystic kidneys. Statistical analyses estimated odds ratios (ORs) for these types of birth defects and were adjusted for confounding factors including maternal age at delivery, maternal smoking during pregnancy, concurre...
Source: Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey - Category: OBGYN Tags: Obstetrics: Medical Complications of Pregnancy Source Type: research