title: Pregnancy outcome of women exposed to azathioprine during pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Azathioprine (AZP) interferes with nucleic acid synthesis and is teratogenic in animals. In view of the paucity of information on the use of AZP during pregnancy we investigated this subject in a prospective, controlled, multicenter study. Our objective was too determine whether exposure to AZP during pregnancy increases the risk for major malformations and to determine the effect on pregnancy outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women on AZP who contacted one of seven teratogen information services were compared to a cohort of pregnant women who contacted two of the seven teratogen information services and took nonteratogenic treatments during their pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Follow-up was completed on 189 women in the AZP group and compared to 230 women in the control group. The rate of major malformations did not differ between groups with six neonates in each; the AZP rate was 3.5% and the control group rate was 3.0% (p = .775; OR 1.17; CI: 0.37, 3.69). The mean birth weight and gestational age were lower in the AZP group (2,995 g vs. 3,252 g [p = .001, difference of mean: 257, 95% CI: 106.3, 408.1] and 37.8 weeks vs. 39.1 weeks [p = .001, difference of mean: 1.3, 95% CI: .5, 2.0], respectively). The AZP group had more cases of prematurity (21.4% vs. 5.2% [p < .001; OR 4.0; 95% CI: 2.0, 8.06]) and low birth weight (23% vs. 6.0% [p < .001; OR 3.81; 95% CI: 2.0, 7.2]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that AZP (50-100 mg/day) does not triple the rate of birth defects; however, it is associated with lower birth weight, gestational age, and prematurity. Larger studies are needed to confirm these observations.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Teratogen Information Service, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: Lee Hilary
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Galit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dolinsky
authors.forename: Revital
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Raanan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cohen-Kerem
authors.forename: Orna
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Diav-Citrin
authors.forename: Heli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malm
authors.forename: Minke E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Reuvers-Lodewijks
authors.forename: Margreet M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rost van Tonningen-van Driel
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arnon
authors.forename: Asher
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ornoy
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clementi
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Gianantonio
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koren
authors.forename: Rony
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braunstein
authors.forename: Matitiahu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berkovitch
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D050498:Live Birth / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001379:Azathioprine