Delayed Developmental Effects Following Prenatal Exposure to Drugs

Abstract

Increasing evidence points to the possible risks of delayed effects upon prenatal exposure to chemicals; the evaluation of such effects may pose serious problems to clinicians, epidemiologists and toxicologists. In fact, several systems (e.g., nervous, excretory) show important developmental processes well after the organogenetic period, up to the postnatal phase; accordingly, these are also expected to be sensitive targets of developmental toxicants, resulting in impairment of the function and/or functional reserve. This review describes the effects of several groups of drugs on the functional maturation and histogenesis of the kidney (e.g., aminoglycosides, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, indomethacin) and brain (e.g., anticonvulsivants, antiretroviral compounds, benzodiazepines) upon exposure in utero of humans and laboratory animals. The available data stress the importance for risk assessment of an adequate knowledge of both developmental biology and mechanisms of toxicity. The design of developmental toxicity studies should allow an evaluation of targets most relevant for a given drug (or group of drugs); moreover, the analysis of functional development should receive the due attention within the safety assessment of chemicals.

Structural Effects and Neurofunctional Sequelae of Developmental Exposure to Psychotherapeutic Drugs: Experimental and Clinical Aspects

“…It is important to note that these behavioral effects can be seen in the offspring of treated mothers at doses that do not elicit either maternal toxicity or morphologic alterations in the neonates. Psychotherapeutic drugs, which target the CNS, are particularly prone to such neurofunctional/neurobehavioral teratogenic effects (Cuomo, 1987;Mantovani and Calamandrei, 2001). This review focuses on the effects of psychiatric drugs on the development of the fetus and the newborn.…”

Pathology in children of HIV women

“…21 For this reason, it is important to make a long-term follow up of these children. In the present study, we have controlled the exposed children for more than 10 years which is one of the longest period performed so far.…”

Reproductive performance and embriotoxicity of rats exposed to carbamazepine

“…Many of the changes observed during birth, growth and development are due specially to the mother´s exposure to chemical agents (Gerenutti et al, 2006;Mantovani, Calamandrei, 2001). Antiepileptic drugs like carbamazepine, phenytoin, trimethadione and phenobarbital have been constantly associated to a malformation pattern and to delays in growth and development.…”

“…Drugs usage during pregnancy and breast feeding demands a critical evaluation regarding exposure period, dosage, therapy term and fetal and neonatal susceptibility (Del Fiol et al, 2005;Iqbal et al, 2001;Mantovani, Calamandrei, 2001;Gerenutti et al, 1991).…”