Birth Defect
First-trimester hydroxychloroquine use adds no significant risk for birth defects
Hydroxychloroquine use for systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis in the first trimester of pregnancy does not significantly increase the risk for major congenital malformations, according to data published in Rheumatology.
Updated guidance highlights best practices for fetal echocardiography
Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect, affecting nearly 1% of births per year in the United States, according to the CDC.
Antipsychotic agents not linked to birth defects
Exposure to antipsychotics during pregnancy may not increase risk for birth defects, according to a study published in JAMA Psychiatry.
Prenatal hydroxychloroquine exposure not linked to major structural birth defects
The use of hydroxychloroquine during pregnancy is not associated with structural birth defects or any other outcomes, save for birth head circumference, according to data published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Opioid, macrolide use in pregnancy not tied to overall birth defect risk
Children born to mothers who used opioids and macrolide antibiotics do not have increased risks for major birth defects, according to two studies published in the BMJ.
Researchers find more evidence for role of maternal antidepressant use in birth defects
Certain antidepressants appeared associated with specific birth defects, according to study results published in JAMA Psychiatry.
Birth defects linked to macrolide use during pregnancy
The use of macrolide antibiotics during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk for major malformations — particularly cardiovascular malformations — in children, according to research published in BMJ.
Rate of infant deaths attributed to birth defects declines by 10% in US
The birth defect-related infant mortality rate in the United States declined by 10% from 2003 to 2017, according to data published in MMWR.