A case of holoprosencephaly is reported in which the mother was prescribed high doses of oestroprogestins during the first 5 months of the pregnancy. Investigation of the family failed to reveal any sign of physical abnormality. A normal karyotype was detected in the proband. The authors suggest that this case may shed some light on the normal and abnormal way in which embryonic fields develop.

BACKGROUND Hyperthyroidism during pregnancy is treated with the antithyroid drugs (ATD) propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole (MMI). PTU currently is recommended as the drug of choice during early pregnancy. Yet, despite widespread ATD use in pregnancy, formal studies of ATD teratogenic effects have not been performed. METHODS We examined the teratogenic effects of PTU and MMI during embryog...

Drugs taken during pregnancy create concern whether they are self administered or medically prescribed. The number of mothers who take drugs during pregnancy is not known, but a survey in the United States showed that about 45% ofwomen may use at least one drug on prescription, and many more use drugs bought over the counter.' A recent prospective study in the United Kingdom, however, suggested...

In a retrospective study to compare the drug consumption during pregnancy of mothers of infants with congenital abnormalities and of those without, over 97% of 1,369 mothers took prescribed drugs and 65% self-administered drugs. Significantly more mothers of infants with congenital abnormalities took aspirin, antacids, dextroamphetamine, phenobarbitone, sodium amytal, other barbiturates, cough ...

Male and female germ cells vary in their sensitivity to the mutagenic effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, depending on their stage of maturation and the agent used. Although sperm DNA damage exists following treatment, no increase in genetic defects or congenital malformations was detected among children conceived to parents who have previously undergone chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The ...

OBJECTIVE(S) Potassium benzoate (PB) is used as a substitute preservative for sodium benzoate primarily in dietetic foods where the sodium content is minimized. There are few reports about the teratogenic effects of PB. The purpose of this study is to investigate the teratogenic effects of PB on eye development in balb/c mice fetuses. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty female mice were divided to t...

The developmental toxicity of two anaesthetics, 2-phenoxyethanol and clove oil, used in aquaculture was evaluated using the Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay: Xenopus (FETAX) and the results were compared to outcomes in fish. Xenopus laevis embryos were exposed to 50, 100, 300, 500, 700 and 1000 mg/l of 2-phenoxyethanol or 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/l of clove oil. Values of 96 h LC50, 96 h EC50 ...

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to quantify the number of women of childbearing potential who are prescribed angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor), angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), or HMG-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor (statin) and to determine the number of documented teratogenic risk discussions (risk documentation) before and after educational interventions. METH...

The folic acid antagonists, methotrexate and aminopterin, are known to be teratogenic in humans. The critical period for their teratogenecity is suspected to be between 6 to 8 weeks post-conception. Fetal exposure from 10 to 32 weeks weeks post-conception to methotrexate alone or in combination with other anti-cancer drugs has not resulted in obvious teratogenic effects. Methotrexate is often u...

The prevalence of abnormalities and associated tissue selenium residues were assessed for the fish population of Belews Lake, North Carolina, and two reference lakes in 1975, 1978, 1982, and 1992. Teratogenic defects identified included lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis, and head, mouth, and fin deformities. Many fish exhibited multiple malformations and some were grossly deformed and distorted in ...