title: Drug exposure in pregnancy and heart defects.
abstract: Being the most common group of congenital malformations, congenital heart defects have often been investigated to rule out teratogenic effects by medicinal drugs and chemicals. Yet, the use of rigorous epidemiological methods has rejected such claims in many cases. We critically evaluate drugs believed to be associated with an increased risk of causing congenital heart defects, highlighting the debate and the practical implications of such associations.
authors.affiliation: The Motherisk Program, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Matok
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pupco
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koren
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D008094:Lithium