Week 3: Pregnancy 2 Flashcards
Teratogenicity in weeks 1-3
Teratogen exposure in the preimplantation to implantation phase usually leads to an “all or none” period with either miscarriage or no effect
Teratogenicity in weeks 3-8
The developing baby is at greatest risk for major abnormalities during the embryonic stage (weeks 3-8)
When is a developing baby at the greatest risk for teratogens
the embryonic stage (weeks 3-8)
When is the embryonic stage?
Weeks 3-8
Teratogenicity in weeks 9+
- Minor anomalies
- growth disturbance
- stillbirth
- preterm delivery
- neurodevelopmental effects
Critical periods of teratogenicity
Teratogenicity throughout gestation
development of parts to embryonic age
What is a teratogen?
Teratogens are agents that alter the structure and/or function of the fetus
from greek “teras” = monster
Teratogen criteria
Classes of teratogens
- Known teratogenic medications
- Substances of abuse
- Infections (TORCH) et al (and others)
- Maternal diabetes
- environmental/chemical (eg mercury, X ray)
Super infamous historic medical teratogen
Thalidomide
Thalidomide teratogenic effects
- born without ears was first
- phocomelia (flipper-like arms and legs)
- deformed eyes, heart, GI, GU anomalies and deafness
Thalidomide mechanism of teratogenicity
The drug restricts blood vessel angiogenesis
Thalidomide Mnemonic
Limb defects with Thalimbdomide
FDA 5 letter drug classification system
Replacement of the FDA 5 letter classification system
DES AKA
Diethylstilbestrol
What is Diethylstilbestrol
Synthetic estrogen hormone analog
Diethylstilbestrol teratogenic effects
- Clear cell adenocarcinoma in exposed female offspring “DES Daughters”with the risk being highest in their teens and early 20s but also reported in their 30s and 40s
- T-shaped uterus
- Hooded cervix
- Hypoplastic cervix
- Cockscomb cervix
- Pseudopolyp
- Infertility
- tubal pregnancy
- preterm delivery
- risk of male reproductive issues in male offspring
What is the Cockscomb cervix?
Maternal DES exposure
DES cervix and vagina
Known teratogenic medications
- Ace inhibitors
- ARBs
- Alkylating agents
- Aminoglycosides
- Anti-epileptics
- AED
- Folate antagonists
- Isotrenitoin
- Lithium
- Methimazole
- Methotrexate
- Misoprostol
- Tetracyclines
- Warfarin
ARBs AKA
Angiotensin-II Receptor Blockers
ACE inhibitors AKA
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
ACE inhibitors classification
Old pregnancy category: C or D
ACE inhibitors teratogenic effects
First trimester:
- Bony malformations
- calvarial hypoplasia
- limb contractures
- patent ductus arteriosus
second or third trimester:
- Fetal and neonatal renal failure with oligohydramnios
- IUGR
- leading to pulmonary hypoplasia, hypotension, death
ACE inhibitors clinical considerations with pregnancy
- Stop before pregnancy or ASAP with dx pregnancy
- Captopril has been studied enough to be used in breastfeeding mothers
ARBs teratogen classification
Old category: D
Risk summary: All trimesters
ARBs Teratogenic effects
- incomplete skull ossification
- renal dysplasia
- fetal effects hypotension
- anuria
- oliguria
- IUGR
- PAtent ductus arteriosus
- Death
ARBs Teratogenic clinical considerations
- Animal studies suggest toxic actions are most common after 3rd trimester exposure
- Use should be avoided throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding
What are Alkylating agents?
Substances that cause replacement of hydrogen by an alkyl group in a biologically important molecule, specifically: with mutagenic activity that inhibits cell division and growth and used to treat some cancers and autoimmune disorders
Alkylating agents teratogenic classification
Old category: D and X
Alkylating agents teratogenic risk summary
All trimesters
Alkylating agents teratogenic effects
- Cleft palate
- renal agenesis
- digital malformations
- cardiac anomalies
- cataracts
- IUGR
Antimetabolites teratogenic classification
D and X
Examples of antimetabolites
- Aminopterin
- 5 FU
- Methotrexate
- Methylaminopterin
- cytarabine
Antimetabolites teratogenic risk summary
All trimesters
Antimetabolites teratogenic effects
- Cleft lip/palate
- low set ears
- cranial anomalies
- anencephaly
- IUGR
- stillbirth
ACE inhibitors examples
- Captopril
- Enalopril
- Lisinopril
ARBs examples
- Cadesartan
- Eprosartan
- Losartan
- Valsartan
Aminoglycosides teratogenic classification
old category: D
Aminoglycosides teratogenic risk summary
Trimester of risk is inconsistent
Aminoglycosides teratogenic effects
Gentamycin - ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity (selective uptake, cellular damage)
A mean guy hit the baby in the ear
Anti-epileptic Drugs AKA
AED
AED AKA
Anti-epileptic Drugs
First generation Anti-epileptic clinical considerations of teratogenicity
Examples of first generation Anti-epileptic Drugs
- Phenytoin (Dilantin)
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
- Valproic acid
- Phenobarbital
first generation Anti-epileptic Drugs teratogenic effects
- Orofacial clefts
- dysmorphic facial features
- Nail and digit hypoplasia
- Cardiac defects
- IUGR
- Microcephaly
- Developmental delay
- Neuroblastomas
- Cleft palate
- Can be affected by congenital enzyme deficiency
Valproic acid teratogenic classification
Old category: D
Valproic acid examples
- Depakene
- Depakote
Valproic acid teratogenic clinical considerations
- Fetal levels are more than 2x maternal levels
- Risk is dose-dependent and folate sensitive
Valproic acid teratogenic risk summary
Neural tube defect 1-2% risk
Valproic acid teratogenic effects
- Craniofacial
- Limb abnormalities
- Heart
- CNS dysfunction
- Developmental delay
Carbamazepine examples
- Tegretol
- Atretol
- Convuline
- Epitol
Carbamazepine teratogenic effects
- Facial dysmorphism
- Spina bifida 0.5-1% risk
- Distal phalange and fingernail hypoplasia
- Developmental delay
- Neonatal cholestatic jaundice
Oxycarbazepine teratogenic classification
old category: C (registry available)
Oxycarbazepine teratogenic risk summary
not felt as teratogenic as tegretol
Oxycarbazepine examples
Trileptal
Oxycarbazepine teratogenic effects
- High risk of Steven Johnson Syndrome
- Skin lesions
Second generation AEDs examples
- Lamotrigine (lamictel)
- Toriramate (Topamax, Trokendi XR, Qudexy)
Second generation AEDs Lamotrigine & Toriramate teratogenic classification
NAAED pregnancy registry
Second generation AEDs Lamotrigine & Topiramate teratogenic effects
- Small risk of isolated, non-syndromic cleft lip +/- cleft palate
- NAAED pregnancy registry reported in 2011 that an increased risk of oral clefts in infants exposed to topiramate monotherapy during the first trimester of pregnancy