title: Teratogenic effects of pregabalin in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) have the potential to affect fetal development throughout pregnancy. Considering the broad therapeutic indications of pregabalin (PGB), its potential teratogenic effects and the levels of homocysteine have been studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Timed-pregnant mice received one of three doses of PGB (20, 40 or 80 mg/kg/day) or the vehicle control during organogenesis, intraperitoneally. The litters were stained and examined for malformations. Total homocysteine (tHcy) was measured in serum from the pregnant mice on GD18.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of fetus malformations increased significantly in all treated groups as compared to the control group. The abnormalities included limb, vertebral column and craniofacial abnormalities. The most common abnormality was limb deformity. The percentage of fetal resorption significantly increased at higher doses. There was no significant difference in tHcy concentrations between the treated and control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregabalin may have potential teratogenic effects even in lower doses, however with less intensity than other AEDs. Therefore, it is suggested that great caution should be taken when prescribing it in pregnancy and further investigation for possible mechaninsms.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Etemad
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran ; Medical Toxicology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Afshar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammad
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran ; Departments of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Hooshang
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mohammadpour
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vahdati Mashhadi
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran ; Medical Toxicology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Adel
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Moallem
keywords: Antiepileptic drugs; Developmental toxicity; Homocysteine; Teratogenicity