Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Παθολογία της ΚύησηςLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Supervisors info:
Καλανταρίδου Σοφία, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Φρυσίρα Ελένη, Ομ. Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Βραχνής Νικόλαος, Αναπληρωτής καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Φάρμακα και συγγενείς διαμαρτίες στο έμβρυο
Translated title:
Drugs and fetal malformations
Summary:
The use of chemotherapy during pregnancy is a dilemma, both for the patient and the doctor.
Attention should be paid to potential teratological problems and the risks to the mother and fetus
should be carefully balanced. Chemotherapeutic agents can be administered in the 2nd and 3rd
trimester without serious teratogenic risk. However, the exact effect of chemotherapy on restricting
fetal development has not been fully established. Information is scarce due to the rarity of malignancy
that occurs during pregnancy, and even the lack of uniform treatment protocols.
In terms of teratogenic risks, they are significant, but sodium valproate is still widely
prescribed in many countries, for women of childbearing potential, as a mood stabilizer in bipolar
disorder and also in epilepsy. There is room for further research on both the efficacy and safety of
valproate alternatives.
Some atypical antipsychotics are associated with metabolic side effects, which are risk factors
for gestational diabetes.
Newer generation antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are not associated with a significant increased
risk of congenital malformations. However, this does not mean that these factors are not harmful to
infants / children exposed in utero. Counseling is advisable on teratogenic risks, when the
prescription is written for a woman of childbearing age, and before women continue with these
medications when considering the possibility of pregnancy. These decisions need to be balanced with
the need to control seizures.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Pregnancy, Adverse effects, Epilepsy, Congenital malformations, Miscarriage, Teratogenicity
Number of references:
102
