Antiherpetic Medication Use and the Risk of Gastroschisis: Findings from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2007

Katherine A Ahrens; Marlene T Anderka; Marcia L Feldkamp; Mark A Canfield; Allen A Mitchell; Martha M Werler; National Birth Defects Prevention Study

doi:10.1111/ppe.12064

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Antiherpetic Medication Use and the Risk of Gastroschisis: Findings from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2007

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Antiherpetic Medication Use and the Risk of Gastroschisis: Findings from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2007

Katherine A Ahrens, Marlene T Anderka, Marcia L Feldkamp, Mark A Canfield, Allen A Mitchell, Martha M Werler and National Birth Defects Prevention Study

Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology, Vol.27(4), pp.340-345

07/2013

DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12064

PMCID: PMC3690801

PMID: 23772935

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3690801View

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Abstract

Background Previous studies examining the teratogenic effects of antiherpetic medications have found no associations for birth defects overall but have not examined the risk of specific birth defects. Methods The National Birth Defects Prevention Study ascertains population-based cases with birth defects and live-born controls without birth defects in 10 states across the United States for the purpose of identifying potential teratogenic risk factors. Mothers of cases and controls are interviewed within 2 years of their estimated date of delivery about demographic, medical and behavioural factors before and during pregnancy. This analysis examined the possible association between use of antiherpetic medications (acyclovir, valacyclovir or famciclovir) during early pregnancy and gastroschisis, a birth defect of the abdominal wall. Results The mothers of 1.1% (n = 10) of 941 gastroschisis cases and 0.3% (n = 27) of 8339 controls reported antiherpetic medication use during the month before conception through the third month of pregnancy. The adjusted odds ratios for such use in relation to gastroschisis were 4.7 [95% confidence interval 1.7, 13.3] and 4.7 [95% CI 1.2, 19.0] among women with and without self-reported genital herpes, respectively, when compared with women without antiherpetic use or herpes. Among women reporting no antiherpetic medication use, the odds ratio for self-reported genital herpes in relation to gastroschisis was 3.0 [95% CI 1.6, 5.7]. Conclusions Our study raises the possibility of an increased risk of gastroschisis because of either antiherpetic medication use during early pregnancy or the underlying genital herpes infection for which it was indicated.

acyclovir

antiherpetic

antiviral

birth defects

gastroschisis

Details

Title: Subtitle: Antiherpetic Medication Use and the Risk of Gastroschisis: Findings from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2007
Creators: Katherine A Ahrens - Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University
Marlene T Anderka - Massachusetts Department of Public Health, MA, Boston
Marcia L Feldkamp - Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, UT, Salt Lake City
Mark A Canfield - Texas Department of State Health Services, TX, Austin
Allen A Mitchell - Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University
Martha M Werler - Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University
National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Contributors: Paul A Romitti (Contributor) - University of Iowa, Epidemiology
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology, Vol.27(4), pp.340-345
DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12064
PMID: 23772935
PMCID: PMC3690801
NLM abbreviation: Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol
ISSN: 0269-5022
eISSN: 1365-3016
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Number of pages: 6
Language: English
Date published: 07/2013
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Biostatistics
Record Identifier: 9984214660702771

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