Systematic review with meta-analysis: the risks of proton pump inhibitors during pregnancy

Cheng Mei Li1,2,3, Alexandra Zhernakova4, Lars Engstrand1,2

  • 1Centre for Translational Microbiome Research, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Insights

Maternal use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) during pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of congenital malformations in newborns. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore specific drug effects.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Neonatal Health
  • Pharmacovigilance

Background:

  • Safety concerns exist regarding long-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use, including during pregnancy.
  • Assessing the potential risks of PPIs on neonatal outcomes is crucial for maternal and child health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and meta-analyze the risk of adverse neonatal outcomes associated with maternal intake of PPIs.
  • To compare risks between PPI users, Histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) users, and non-users.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Database, and Embase was conducted.
  • Included studies compared pregnant individuals using PPIs or H2RAs with non-users, examining outcomes like congenital malformations, preterm birth, and low birth weight.
  • Random-effects modeling was used to pool odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Main Results:

  • Maternal PPI use was associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations (OR 1.28).
  • This association was particularly notable in case-control studies (OR 2.04).
  • No significant associations were found between PPIs and other adverse outcomes, while H2RA use showed a potential link to increased preterm birth risk.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal PPI use during pregnancy is suggested to be associated with congenital malformations.
  • The current meta-analysis lacked sufficient power to evaluate specific malformations or individual PPI drugs.
  • Further investigation is warranted to clarify the risks associated with PPI use in pregnancy.
Abstract

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