SAN DIEGO -- In utero exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors was not significantly associated with the risk for cardiac malformations or persistent pulmonary hypertension, researchers reported here.
MedPage Today Action Points
- Explain to patients who ask that this study suggests that use of SSRIs during pregnancy does not increase the baby's risk for cardiac malformations or persistent pulmonary hypertension.
- This study was published as an abstract and presented in a poster session at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed publication
SAN DIEGO, May 23 -- In utero exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors was not significantly associated with the risk for cardiac malformations or persistent pulmonary hypertension.
In a retrospective review of records of more than 25,000 pregnant women treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., from 1993 through 2005, there was no association between the mothers' SSRI use during pregnancy and the occurrence of congenital heart disease, ventricular septal defects, or persistent pulmonary hypertension in their children, reported Christina L. Wichman, D.O., and colleagues at the American Psychiatric Association meeting here.
"Recent data indicates that approximately 10% to 15% of women will have depression at any point during pregnancy or the post-partum period," they wrote. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the first line pharmacotherapy to treat depression, they noted, but "inconsistent data has been reported regarding the safety of SSRIs in pregnancy."
In a separate presentation, the same authors noted that the percentage of pregnant women in their practice who used SSRIs rose from less than 1% in 1993 to 5% in 2005. They speculated that the increase is because of an increasing perception among patients and physicians that the drugs are safe to use during pregnancy.
