| nospam@nospam.org 2005-04-27, 5:54 pm |
| Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2003 Jul;60(7):720-6. Related Articles, Links
http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com...rns-infants.htm
Effects of exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during pregnancy
on serotonergic symptoms in newborns and cord blood monoamine and prolactin
concentrations.
Laine K, Heikkinen T, Ekblad U, Kero P.
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, university of Turku and
Turku university Central Hospital, Turku, Finland. karlai@utu.fi
BACKGROUND: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have gained wide
acceptance in the treatment of mental disorders in pregnant women, but there
seems to be an increased risk for neonatal adaptation problems after exposure to
SSRIs in late pregnancy. We aimed to investigate the perinatal sequelae of
infants exposed to SSRIs during their fetal life and the relationship of these
symptoms to the cord blood monoamine and prolactin concentrations. METHODS: We
conducted a prospective, controlled, follow-up study with 20 mothers taking 20
to 40 mg/d of either citalopram or fluoxetine for depression (n = 10) or panic
disorder (n = 10) and their infants and 20 matched controls not receiving
psychotropic medication for confounding obstetric characteristics. Maternal cord
blood and infant citalopram, fluoxetine, and norfluoxetine, cord blood monoamine
and metabolite, and prolactin concentrations were measured. The newborns
underwent standard clinical examination and specific assessment of serotonergic
symptoms during the first 4 days of life and at the ages of 2 weeks and 2
months. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant (P =.008, V = 15, n = 20
for both groups), 4-fold difference in the serotonergic symptom score during the
first 4 days of life between the SSRI group and the control group. The
SSRI-exposed infants had significantly lower cord blood 5-hydroxyindoleacetic
acid (5-HIAA) concentrations (P =.02, t31 = 2.57) compared with the control
group. A significant inverse correlation (rs = -0.66, P =.007, n = 15) was seen
between the serotonergic symptom score and the umbilical vein 5-HIAA
concentrations in the SSRI-exposed but not the control infants. CONCLUSIONS:
Infants exposed to SSRIs during late pregnancy are at increased risk for
serotonergic central nervous system adverse effects, and the severity of these
symptoms is significantly related to cord blood 5-HIAA levels.
PMID: 12860776 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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