Common Teratogens and Associated Effects

Question 1

Teratogen: alcohol

Answer 1

Most common cause of mental retardation; also leads to facial abnormalities and microcephaly

Question 2

Teratogen: cocaine

Answer 2

Intrauterine growth retardation and placental abruption

Question 3

Teratogen: thalidomide

Answer 3

Limb defects (“flipper limbs”)

Question 4

Teratogen: cigarette smoke

Answer 4

Intrauterine growth retardation, preterm labor, placental problems, ADHD

Question 5

Teratogen: isotretinoin

Answer 5

Spontaneous abortion, hearing and visual impairment

Question 6

Teratogen: tetracycline

Answer 6

Discolored teeth

Question 7

Teratogen: warfarin

Answer 7

Bone deformities, fetal bleeding, abortion, ophthalmologic abnormalities

Question 8

Teratogen: phenytoin

Answer 8

Fetal hydantoin syndrome: microcephaly, dysmorphic craniofacial features, hypoplastic nails and distal phalanges, cardiac defects, intrauterine growth retardation, mental retardation

Question 9

Teratogen: ACE inhibitors

Answer 9

Renal damage

Question 10

Teratogen: alklyating agents

Answer 10

Absence of digits, multiple anomalies

Question 11

Teratogen: aminoglycosides

Answer 11

CN VIII toxicity

Question 12

Teratogen: carbamazepine

Answer 12

Neural tube defects, craniofacial defects, fingernail hypoplasia, developmental delay, intrauterine growth retardation

Question 13

Teratogen: diethylstilbestrol (DES)

Answer 13

Vaginal clear cell adenocarcinoma, congenital Mullerian anomalies

Question 14

Teratogen: folate antagonists

Answer 14

Neural tube defects

Question 15

Teratogen: lithium

Answer 15

Ebstein’s anomaly (atrialized right ventricle)

Question 16

Teratogen: valproate

Answer 16

Inhibition of maternal folate absorption - neural tube defects

Question 17

Teratogen: iodine (lack or excess)

Answer 17

Congenital goiter or hypothyroidism (cretinism)

Question 18

Teratogen: maternal diabetes

Answer 18

Caudal regress syndrome (anal atresia to sirenomelia), congenital heart defects, neural tube defects

Question 19

Teratogen: vitamin A (excess)

Answer 19

Extrememly high risk for spontaneous abortions and birth defects (cleft palate, cardiac abnormalities)

Question 20

Teratogen: X-rays

Answer 20

Microcephaly, mental retardation