Benzodiazepines
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Reactions 424 - 24 Oct 1992 Benzodiazepines Dysmorphogenesis: clinical study Similarities in facial features and CNS dysfunction in 8 children excessively exposed to benzodiazepines in utero led a multidisciplinary group of researchers to conduct 3 case- controlled studies. Their aim was to test the possibility of a teratogenic benzodiazepine syndrome Results from each study were as follows: • A highly significant correlation was found between a positive maternal benzodiazepine test (taken from serum at around gestational week 12) and specific congenital malformations. • Perinatal deaths (n = 73) were significantly correlated to maternal psychotropic drug use, including benzodiazepines, compared with surviving infants (73) whose mothers had also taken drugs in pregnancy. • 17 children whose mothers had used benzodiazepines in therapeutic doses throughout pregnancy had impaired intrauterine growth, significantly more complications and abnormal neonatal neurobehaviour compared to a reference group (n = 29) with no known drug exposure Benzodiazepine-exposed infants also had retarded gross motor development at 6 and 10 months, and impaired fine motor function at 10 and 18 months; 5 had craniofacial anomalies. Author comment: ‘The significant association between maternal BZD (benzodiazepine) use and minor and major anomalies supports the hypothesis of the teratogenicity of BZD, especially when taken in large doses. A long-lasting effect of BZD on the CNS and its functions cannot be excluded.’ Laegreid L, et al. Potential hazards of benzodiazepines for the foetus. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica 86: 105, Jul 1992 - Sweden 800158027 1 Reactions 24 Oct 1992 No. 424 0114-9954/10/0424-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
Transcript of Benzodiazepines
Reactions 424 - 24 Oct 1992
Benzodiazepines
Dysmorphogenesis: clinical studySimilarities in facial features and CNS dysfunction in 8
children excessively exposed to benzodiazepines in utero led amultidisciplinary group of researchers to conduct 3 case-controlled studies. Their aim was to test the possibility of ateratogenic benzodiazepine syndrome Results from eachstudy were as follows:• A highly significant correlation was found between a
positive maternal benzodiazepine test (taken from serumat around gestational week 12) and specific congenitalmalformations.
• Perinatal deaths (n = 73) were significantly correlated tomaternal psychotropic drug use, includingbenzodiazepines, compared with surviving infants (73)whose mothers had also taken drugs in pregnancy.
• 17 children whose mothers had used benzodiazepines intherapeutic doses throughout pregnancy had impairedintrauterine growth, significantly more complications andabnormal neonatal neurobehaviour compared to areference group (n = 29) with no known drug exposureBenzodiazepine-exposed infants also had retarded grossmotor development at 6 and 10 months, and impaired finemotor function at 10 and 18 months; 5 had craniofacialanomalies.
Author comment: ‘The significant association betweenmaternal BZD (benzodiazepine) use and minor and majoranomalies supports the hypothesis of the teratogenicity ofBZD, especially when taken in large doses. A long-lastingeffect of BZD on the CNS and its functions cannot beexcluded.’Laegreid L, et al. Potential hazards of benzodiazepines for the foetus. ActaNeurologica Scandinavica 86: 105, Jul 1992 - Sweden 800158027
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Reactions 24 Oct 1992 No. 4240114-9954/10/0424-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
