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Neurodevelopment after in utero amiodarone exposure
L A Magee1, I Nulman, J F Rovet
1Motherisk Program, Division of Clinical Pharmacology/Toxicology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. laura.magee@utoronto.ca
Neurotoxicology and Teratology
|July 1, 1999
Summary
Transplacental amiodarone exposure may impact fetal neurodevelopment. While toddlers showed no IQ differences, older children exhibited learning difficulties, suggesting potential neurotoxicity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Amiodarone is known to be neurotoxic in adults.
- The effects of fetal amiodarone exposure on neurodevelopment are not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the neurodevelopmental outcomes in children exposed transplacentally to amiodarone.
- To identify potential neurotoxic effects of prenatal amiodarone exposure.
Main Methods:
- A historical cohort study of 10 children with transplacental amiodarone exposure.
- Cognitive and language skills assessed using standardized tests.
- Comparison of toddlers with matched controls and older children with normative data.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in IQ scores between amiodarone-exposed toddlers and controls.
- Toddlers exposed to amiodarone showed poorer expressive language skills compared to receptive language skills (p=0.046).
- One toddler exhibited global developmental delay; older children had reading, writing, and arithmetic challenges.
Conclusions:
- Transplacental amiodarone exposure may be associated with neurodevelopmental deficits.
- Findings suggest potential neurotoxicity, possibly resembling Nonverbal Learning Disability Syndrome.
- Further follow-up is warranted to fully understand long-term effects.