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Risks of paracetamol in pregnant women
A new study led by Dr. Claudia Avella-Garcia has found that paracetamol (acetaminophen), which is widely used during pregnancy, has a strong association with symptoms of autism spectrum in boys and symptoms associated with inattention and hyperactivity both genders.
The results were published this month (June 2016) in the International Journal of Epidemiology. This is the first study of its kind in Europe, which describes an independent association between the use of this drug during pregnancy and autism spectrum symptoms in children. It is also the first study indicating different effects of paracetamol on neurodevelopment by sex. Comparing children persistently exposed to acetaminophen with the unexposed, the study found a 30% increase in the risk of harm for some features of care; and an increase in autism spectrum symptoms in men only.
The researchers recruited 2,644 mother-infant pairs in a birth cohort study in Spain during pregnancy. When evaluated at five years, exposed children had about 40% higher risk of symptoms of hyperactivity or impulsivity than those not exposed. Boys and girls exposed persistently showed poorer performance in the K-CPT, a computerized test that measures the inattention, impulsivity and visual processing speed.
This study adds to others already exposed the relationship between paracetamol in pregnancy and childhood asthma. Another study, conducted by the Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL) and the Municipal Institute of Medical Research in collaboration with the University of Aarhus (Denmark), had revealed the relationship between the use of this drug in pregnancy, especially during the first trimester and the risk of children suffering from respiratory problems or develop asthma during the first seven years of life. Specifically it confirmed that the intake of this drug with analgesic properties 20% increased risk of asthma during the first 18 months and up to 50% if the study was extended to seven years.
This new current study (also born in the CREAL) concludes that, given that exposure to paracetamol during pregnancy is common in the population, could help to increase the number of children with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or spectrum autistic. However, it is emphasized that before making recommendations about its use, it is necessary to carry out studies with more accurate measurements of the dose (remember that once the daily dose of paracetamol was 500 mg / 8 hours and currently is 1 gram / 8 hours) and do risk-benefit assessments regarding the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and early childhood (since there are very few painkillers that can be used during pregnancy) .The 50% of pregnant women taking paracetamol, not knowing it passes the placental barrier and the fetus has no ability to metabolise.
In conclussion, the current evidence does not involve the need to remove your prescription in pregnant women, but to restrict it and properly inform about the risks.
Reference
Avella-Garcia CB, Julvez J, J Fortuny, Rebordosa C, Garcia-Esteban R, IR Galán, Tardón A, Rodriguez-Bernal CL, Iñiguez C, Andiarena A, Santa Marina L, Sunyer J. Acetaminophen use in pregnancy and neurodevelopment : attention function and autism spectrum symptoms. Int J of Epidemiology, June 2016.
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Una gran troballa ,sense dubte ,en la qual val la pena seguir aprofundint!!
Reply →thanks for info
Reply →thanks for info
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