Aplasia cutis congenita after methimazole exposure in utero.
We describe a patient who was exposed to the antithyroid drug methimazole during the first 6 weeks of gestation and was born prematurely with scalp and skull defects associated with facial asymmetry. A review of the literature seems to support the hypothesis that methimazole is a potential teratogen. Although the risk of birth defects is low with clinically applied doses of the drug, it cannot be regarded as safe and should therefore be avoided in the treatment of pregnant women.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Szeged, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Medical School, Szeged, Hungary. karg@pedia.szote.u-szeged.hu
Eszter
E
Karg
Edit
E
Bereg
Laszlo
L
Gaspar
Marta
M
Katona
Sandor
S
Turi
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000328:Adult; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications; D004476:Ectodermal Dysplasia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D008713:Methimazole / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D008713:Methimazole