Antiherpetic Medication Use and the Risk of Gastroschisis: Findings From the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2007
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-2013
Publication Title
Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
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.
Recommended Citation
Ahrens, K., Anderka, M., Feldkamp, M., Canfield, M., Mitchell, A., & Werler, M. (2013). Antiherpetic medication use and the risk of gastroschisis: findings from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 27(3), 258-262.
Comments
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This work was supported through cooperative agreements under PA 96043, PA 02081 and FOA DD09-001 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the Centers for Birth Defects Research and Prevention participating in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. KAA’s work on this project was supported by NIH T32 HD052458 (Boston University Reproductive, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology training program).