Abnormal Development – Drugs SSRIs

This British Medical Journal article uses a population based cohort, in an attempt to identify any association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; used to treat depression, mood and anxiety disorders) taken during pregnancy and congenital major malformations. Most early studies (<2005) SSRIs studies had not identified an association, though other more recent studies had.  BMJ 2009;339:b3569

There is an increased prevalence of septal heart defects among children whose mothers were prescribed an SSRI in early pregnancy, particularly sertraline and citalopram. The largest association was found for children of women who redeemed prescriptions for more than one type of SSRI.

(More? UNSW Embryology – Abnormal Development – Drugs)

Assisted reproduction technology in Australia and New Zealand 2007

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released a new report today: Assisted reproduction technology in Australia and New Zealand 2007 | Media Release

In 2007, there were 56,817 assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment cycles undertaken in Australian and New Zealand. Of these cycles, 17.4% resulted in a live delivery (the birth of at least one liveborn baby). In total, 10,856 liveborn babies were born following ART treatment undertaken in 2007. The most important recent trend in ART treatment has been the reduction in the rate of twins and triplets births, with the multiple delivery rate falling from 18.7% in 2003 to 10.0% in 2007. This trend has been associated with an increase in the proportion of ART treatment cycles using single embryo transfer, from 32.0% in 2003 to 63.7% in 2007.

(More? UNSW Embryology – Week 1 – In Vitro Fertilization)
 

Gestational Diabetes

This Diabetic Medicine article reports on a clinical study comparing metformin and insulin treatment for gestational diabetes. Metformin (Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Riomet, Fortamet, Glumetza, Obimet, Dianben, Diabex, Diaformin) is an oral anti-diabetic drug from the biguanide class.

Pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes treated with metformin or insulin: a case-control study. Balani J, Hyer SL, Rodin DA, Shehata H. Diabet Med. 2009 Aug;26(8):798-802. PMID: 19709150

Women with GDM treated with metformin and with similar baseline risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes had less weight gain and improved neonatal outcomes compared with those treated with insulin.

(More? UNSW Embryology – Gestational Diabetes | Abnormal Development – Maternal Diabetes)