Antiherpetic Drugs not associated with major birth defects
31 August 2010
According to a study published in JAMA on August 25 2010, scientists from Statens Serum Institut, Denmark find no increased risk of major birth defects for mothers who were exposed to antiviral drugs during pregnancy.
No more the 2,2 percent of the infants born to mothers who were exposed to acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir during the first trimester of pregnancy had a diagnosis of a major birth defect compared with 2.4 percent among the unexposed pregnancies.
A register-based study
Doctors Bjorn Pasternak and Anders Hviid conducted a registry-based study to assess associations between the use of acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir in the first trimester of pregnancy and major birth defects. The study included 837,795 live-born infants and used data from The Danish National Patient registry and the Danish Medicines Agency.
Further research needed
The safety of acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir in general has been described, but little is known about the use of these antivirals in early pregnancy. “Future research on antiherpetic antivirals and mother-child health should include safety studies with regard to spontaneous abortion, preterm birth and breastfeeding," the authors write. “Also wee need more knowledge about the associations between these drugs and specific and rare birth defects”, the authors explain.
Herpes prevalence high
The prevalence of herpes simplex is high, and more than 1 percent of susceptible women acquire primary herpes simplex infection during pregnancy. A number of women also are chronically infected and will need treatment during pregnancy. “Our results may support decisions on safety when GP’s prescribe antivirals for herpes infections in early pregnancy” the authors conclude.
Link til Full Free Text i Jama
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/304/8/859
Se Reuters omtale af dette forskningsresultat:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE67N5LK20100824