Antidepressant drug exposure during pregnancy. CZTIS small prospective study

Antidepressant drugs are used frequently during pregnancy. The risk assessment of SSRI exposure is still evaluated and re-opened due to studies indicating possible increase of inborn defects, neonatal abstinence syndrome and cognitive ability or behavioral defects.

In our study, we prospectively followed groups of pregnancies in years 2002-2009, that were exposed to SSRI. As control group we used 1) women exposed to new atypical antidepressant and anti-psychotics - APD (risperidone, mirtazapine, venlafaxine, trazodone, aripiprazole, ziprasidone, olanzapine), 2) women exposed to nonteratogenic drugs and 3) the general population according to Institute of Health Informations and Statistics (ÚZIS.) Data were analyzed using software Statistica for Windows No.5.5.

The total number of queries on psychotropic drugs performs in CZTIS more than 30% of all calls, constantly. We enrolled a total of 43 women exposed to SSRI and 37 women (1x twins) exposed to new psychotropic drugs (APD) in the study. Exposure to SSRI was often associated with poly-therapy. The most frequent SSRI used were citalopram and/or escitalopram (56%), and setraline (26%). Other SSRI were used sporadically. We observed significantly higher frequency of elective terminations in group of SSRI and higher frequency of abortions a prematurity in APD group. Frequency of malformations does not varied, being in all groups in expected range.

We confirmed that SSRI exposure during pregnancy was not associated with the higher risk of major malformation. However, number of cases was low and did not allow the statistical treatment with higher power.