Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

A growing number of studies have suggested that maternal exposure to post-tricyclic antidepressants during pregnancy might be associated with an increased risk of poor birth, obstetrical, and neonatal outcomes. Among these complications, the occurrence of spontaneous abortions represents one of the most dramatic events for the pregnant woman.

METHODS:

The purpose of this study was to review all studies reporting primary data investigating the rate of spontaneous abortions in women treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during pregnancy. Medical literature information published in English since 1980 was identified using MEDLINE/PubMed, TOXNET, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library. Searches were performed using various combination of search terms and were last updated May 2008. No other limitations were imposed. Twelve articles reporting primary data on the rate of spontaneous abortions in women treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors during early pregnancy outcome of pregnancies exposed to antipsychotics were selected for the review. The author was the only reviewer who performed selection and data extraction.

RESULTS:

Information from reviewed studies are scarce and methodologically inadequate to draw definitive conclusions about the hypothesized risk of spontaneous abortions associated with serotoninergic antidepressant exposure during early pregnancy.

CONCLUSION:

Alternative parameters may be considered in choosing the safest serotoninergic antidepressant for the pregnant woman. Such parameters are mainly represented by the teratogenic risk associated with some of such medications and their well-known liability of inducing perinatal complications.