Klin Farmakol Farm. 2010;24(3):145-151

Teratogenity of drugs and its importance for rational pharmacotherapy

Jana Schwarzová¹, Mária Belovičová², Martin Wawruch³

¹ Študentka 4. ročníka Fakulty medicíny Slovenskej zdravotníckej univerzity, Bratislava

² Ústav farmakológie a klinickej farmakológie Slovenskej zdravotníckej univerzity, Národné referenčné centrum pre liečbu chronických hepatitíd, Bratislava

³ Ústav farmakológie a klinickej farmakológie Lekárskej fakulty Univerzity Komenského, Bratislava

The knowledge on the importance of drugs´ teratogenity plays a significant role in the process of rational pharmacotherapy. Women

represent almost half of adult patients and a part of them is in fertile period when the potential teratogenity risk should be considered.

The drugs could be administered for a long time or for a short term treatment of acute conditions. The teratogenic effect of a drug

depends on: the period of pregnancy in time when the drug is applied, the duration of drug administration, genotype of mother and

foetus, dosage of active substance which is effecting on foetus. It is estimated that drugs contribute to development up to 5 % of all foetal

anatomic abnormalities. Teratogenic agents may cause barely observable abnormalities of biochemical and physiologic processes as

well as changes in behaviour, however the dosages of teratogens are much more less than those causing anatomic abnormalities. Many

of these latent abnormalities are not observed after birth and they are revealed many years later. The most important factor which plays

an important role in doctor’s decision making process before administration of a drug is the consideration of benefit of treatment of

disease of mother, evaluation whether the mother’s disease may cause teratogenic effect and whether mother’s recovery may lead to

improvement of health status of foetus. The authors list the examples of teratogenic effects of concrete drugs during pregnancy.

Keywords: teratogenity of drugs, teratogen, placenta, pregnancy

Published: October 15, 2010  Show citation