Children born to mothers using multiple drug therapy during their pregnancy

Abstract

The question of possibly increased teratogenic risk as a result of usage of multiple drugs during pregnancy (poly therapy) as compared with monotherapy or nonexposure has rarely been explored. The present study summarizes the outcome of pregnancy in terms of children born to women who took multiple drugs during pregnancy in comparison with a drug-free control group. Poly therapy represents 19.8% of all patients who actually have used drugs during pregnancy and called for counselling. The two groups were similar in all maternal and infant characteristics. The outcome of both groups regarding the prevalence of major congenital malformations and postnatal disorders was favorable. However, caution and close monitoring of the fetus and newborn are needed because definite conclusions cannot yet be reached.