salicylates and Birth-Weight

Salicylates have been the most widely studied of the nonnarcotic analgesics in pregnancy, and in the last 20 years evidence has accumulated indicating that their ingestion in pregnancy may have adverse effects on the mother and her child. Salicylates have been found to reduce the mean birth weight of the offspring in animal studies and in 1 human study. In the third trimester of pregnancy the maternal and fetal effects are mediated through the antiprostaglandin properties of salicylates and include prolongation of gestation and labor, increased blood loss at delivery, and increased perinatal mortality. Bleeding manifestations and withdrawal symptoms in newborn infants are associated with raised fetal blood salicylate levels. These effects of salicylates warrant routine antenatal urinary screening for salicylates in communities known to use them heavily. Adverse maternal or fetal effects form acetaminophen use in pregnancy have not been reported, but formal clinical or epidemiologic studies of its use have not been conducted.

Topics: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; Acetaminophen; Animals; Birth Weight; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Female; Fetal Blood; Fetal Growth Retardation; Fetus; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Liver; Obstetric Labor Complications; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Prolonged; Retrospective Studies; Salicylates

Topics: Animals; Birth Weight; Body Weight; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Fertility; Flavoring Agents; Litter Size; Male; Mice; Perfume; Pregnancy; Reproduction; Salicylates

Topics: Acetamides; Animals; Birth Weight; Embryonic and Fetal Development; Fetal Viability; Humans; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Salicylates

The babies of 144 mothers who took salicylates regularly in pregnancy are described. These babies had a significantly reduced birth-weight compared with controls; many of them had a raised cord-blood salicylate level but had no clinical evidence of bleeding or hypoglycaemia. Their perinatal mortality was increased, but the incidence of congenital anomalies was not significantly raised.

Topics: Abnormalities, Multiple; Birth Weight; Female; Fetal Death; Fetus; Gestational Age; Hand Deformities, Congenital; Heart Defects, Congenital; Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Intestinal Perforation; Male; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Pregnancy; Salicylates