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Birth weight of infants after maternal exposure to typical and atypical antipsychotics: prospective comparison study

University of Newcastle, Leazes Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne

Simon H. Thomas, FRCP, MD

National Teratology Information Service, Regional Drug and Therapeutics Centre Wolfson Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne

Karine MacRitchie, MD, MRCPsych, Psychiatry

University of Newcastle, Leazes Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne

Patricia R. McElhatton, MSc, PhD, CBiol, MBiol

National Teratology Information Service, Regional Drug and Therapeutics Centre Wolfson Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne

R. Hamish McAllister-Williams, PhD, MD, FRCPsych, Psychiatry

University of Newcastle, Leazes Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Correspondence: R. H. McAllister-Williams, Psychiatry, Leazes Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Email: R.H.McAllister-Williams{at}ncl.ac.uk

Declaration of interest

J.J.N. has received consultancy fees from Eli Lilly. S.H.T. has undertaken consultancy work for Lundbeck (their product sertindole does not feature in the data-set) and has current (non-psychiatric) research funded by BMS. P.R.M. has received honoraria for speaking engagements from Eli Lilly and Janssen-Cilag, which have been used for educational purposes. R.H.M-W has received honoraria for speaking engagements and attendance at advisory boards for a number of pharmaceutical companies manufacturing antipsychotic drugs, including Janssen-Cilag, AstraZenecca, Eli Lilly and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

See editorial, pp. 321–322, this issue.

Background

The effects of in utero exposure to atypical antipsychotics on infant birth weight are unknown.

Aims

To determine whether atypical and typical antipsychotics differ in their effects on birth weight after maternal exposure during pregnancy.

Method

Prospective data on gestational age and birth weight collected by the National Teratology Information Service for infants exposed to typical (n=45) and atypical (n=25) antipsychotics was compared with data for a reference group of infants (n=38).

Results

Infants exposed to atypical antipsychotics had a significantly higher incidence of large for gestational age (LGA) than both comparison groups and a mean birth weight significantly heavier than those exposed to typical antipsychotics. In contrast those exposed to typical antipsychotics had a significantly lower mean birth weight and a higher incidence of small for gestational age infants than the reference group.

Conclusions

In utero exposure to atypical antipsychotic drugs may increase infant birth weight and risk of LGA.

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				C. Paton Prescribing in pregnancy The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2008; 192(5): 321 - 322. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]