title: Metamizol (dipyrone, optalgin) in pregnancy, is it safe? A prospective comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the teratogenic effect of metamizol when used during the first trimester of pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eight women who used metamizol during the first trimester of pregnancy were recruited from 4 teratogen information centers in Israel (3) and in Italy (1). The study group was paired for age, smoking habits and alcohol consumption with a comparative group exposed to acetaminophen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal demographics and history, birth weight, gestational age at delivery, rate of live births, spontaneous abortions and fetal distress were comparable in both groups. The rate of major malformations in the metamizol group (3%) did not differ significantly from the rate in the comparative group (2%) (P = 0.57, relative risk = 1.55, 95% confidence interval 0.26-9.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data may suggest that exposure to metamizol during the first trimester of pregnancy is probably not associated with a significantly increased risk for malformations or spontaneous abortions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Hadassa University Hospital, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bar-Oz
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clementi
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Giantonio
authors.forename: Revital
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: Monic
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beer
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Merlob
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arnon
authors.forename: Asher
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ornoy
authors.forename: Deena M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Matitiahu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berkovitch
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004177:Dipyrone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004177:Dipyrone