Newer epilepsy medications may not have a negative impact on a baby’s cognitive development if taken during pregnancy, new research has determined. Risks associated with an older medication, valproate, were also confirmed during the latest study, however, the results of which were published online this month in the respected journal Neurology. The Epilepsy Research UK-funded study has shown that…
Author: Danielle Barron
Gestational diabetes linked to obesity
Gestational diabetes may increase a child’s later risk of obesity, new research has found. Maternal gestational diabetes (GDM) is associated with increased odds of offspring obesity at age 9 to 11 years, suggested the multinational study of more than 4,700 children, which was published online earlier this month. The association is not fully independent of current maternal body mass index…
New study suggests antipsychotic use not linked to birth defects
A major study of 1.3 million women has suggested that antipsychotic use during pregnancy does not significantly increase the risk of birth defects. The research, carried out at Harvard Medical School, also found that there was no enhanced risk of cardiac malformations in particular. Exposure to antipsychotics during pregnancy is increasingly common, said the researchers. Antipsychotic medications are used for…
Read more > New study suggests antipsychotic use not linked to birth defects
Statins in pregnancy
Statin may reduce premature births in women with lipid syndrome. A drug which has been widely used in the general population to prevent cardiovascular disease appears to help prevent pregnancy complications in women with antiphospholipid syndrome, new research has found. The new statin treatment may hold promise in reducing premature births and increasing babies' chances of survival for mothers with…
Multivitamins for expectant mothers
Some multivitamin and mineral supplements may be “unnecessary and expensive”, a recent study has determined. A review of the available evidence, published in this month’s issue of the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, found that despite strong marketing claims, the evidence suggests these do not necessarily translate into better outcomes for mother or baby. Furthermore, the researchers criticise misleading claims,…
Autoimmune disease in pregnancy
Autoimmune conditions, such as psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis have the potential to significantly complicate pregnancy. Both planned and unplanned pregnancies are a major issue for women with these diseases, concerned their baby may be at risk from the highly active medications they take to control their condition. Symptoms of an autoimmune disease can improve, worsen, or remain unchanged…
Antiviral drug reduced hepatitis B transmission risk in pregnancy
Daily treatment with the antiviral drug tenofovir during the third trimester of pregnancy significantly reduced the risk of hepatitis B (HBV) transmission from mother to baby, according to new US research. The findings of the study could potentially help to eradicate the disease, say the researchers involved. The clinical trial was led by researchers from NYU Langone Medical Centre, who…
Read more > Antiviral drug reduced hepatitis B transmission risk in pregnancy
