Purpose
As in vitro and in vivo studies reported antiviral efficacy against RNA viruses, favipiravir, a pyrazinecarboxamide derivative, has become one of the treatment options for COVID-19 in some countries including Turkey. Preclinical studies demonstrated the risk for teratogenicity and embryotoxicity. Hence, the drug is contraindicated during pregnancy. Although limited in numbers, case-based evaluations indicate that favipiravir might not be a major teratogen in human pregnancies. This study aimed to present and analyze the outcomes of favipiravir exposure during pregnancy.
Methods
In this case series, the outcomes of nine pregnancies that were referred to the Teratology Information Service of Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Pharmacology between 01 April 2020 and 30 November 2021 were retrospectively evaluated.
Results
One spontaneous abortion, two elective terminations, one preterm live delivery and five term live deliveries were detected. The premature newborn was reported dead on the 5th day of neonatal intensive care unit admission. Physiological jaundice and transient respiratory distress were recorded in two term infants. One term infant was antenatally diagnosed with renal pelviectasis, but the findings resolved postnatally without requiring intervention.
Conclusion
The data indicate that favipiravir is not likely to be a major teratogen. Yet, it is not possible to draw a definite conclusion due to methodological limitations. Favipiravir exposures during pregnancy should be followed up closely and the outcomes should be reported consistently.
ÖzCOVID-19 enfeksiyonu sırasında virus ve konakçı hücre etkileşimleri çok güçlü immun mediyatörlerin akut üretimine yol açmaktadır. Ağır klinik durum çoğunlukla virüsün indüklediği makrofaj ve granülositlerden aşırı inflammatuar sitokin üretimine bağlıdır. Enfeksiyöz ve inflammatuar koşullar altında, klinik ve deneysel çalışmalar göstermiştir ki, ilaç metabolizmasından sorumlu olan karaciğer ve karaciğer dışı sitokrom P450 (CYP) enzimleri ve taşıyıcı proteinler pek çok sitokinler tarafından spesifik olarak regüle edilmektedirler. Sitokinler tarafından bu enzimlerin downregülasyonu, plazma ilaç düzeylerinde yükselmeye neden olabilir ve/veya advers ilaç reaksiyonlarına ve/veya toksisiteye yol açabilir. İnfeksiyon ve inflammasyon koşullarında oluşan sitokin-ilaç etkileşimleri bilgilerimiz temelinde, bu derlemenin amacı, COVID-19 hastalarını tedavi etmek için tek başına veya kombinasyonla kullanılan ilaçların metabolizmaları üzerine kontrolsüz sitokin salınımının etkisini araştırmak ve advers ilaç etkilerine neden olabilecek ilaç-ilaç etkileşimlerini öngörmektir.
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