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Comparative Study
. 2017 May;83(5):1126-1133.
doi: 10.1111/bcp.13194. Epub 2017 Jan 18.

SSRI and SNRI use during pregnancy and the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

Anick Bérard  1   2 , Odile Sheehy  1 , Jin-Ping Zhao  1   2 , Évelyne Vinet  3 , Sasha Bernatsky  3 , Michal Abrahamowicz  4
Affiliations
Comparative Study

SSRI and SNRI use during pregnancy and the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

Anick Bérard et al. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2017 May.

Abstract

Aim: The use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in late pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Limited data are available on the risk of PPHN associated with serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). We aimed to quantify both associations.

Methods: Using data from the Quebec Pregnancy Cohort between 1998 and 2009, we included women covered by the provincial drug plan who had a singleton live birth. Exposure categories were SSRI, SNRI and other antidepressant use; non-users were considered as the reference category. Generalized estimating equation models were used to obtain risk estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Confounding by indication was minimized by adjusting for history of maternal depression/anxiety before pregnancy.

Results: Overall, 143 281 pregnancies were included; PPHN was identified in 0.2% of newborns. Adjusting for maternal depression, and other potential confounders, SSRI use during the second half of pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of PPHN [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.29, 95% CI 1.34, 13.77] compared with non-use of antidepressants; SNRI use during the same time window was not statistically associated with the risk of PPHN (aOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.06, 5.62). Use of SSRIs and SNRIs before the 20th week of gestation was not associated with the risk of PPHN.

Conclusions: Use of SSRIs in the second half of pregnancy was associated with the risk of PPHN. Given our results on SNRIs and the lack of statistical power for these analyses, it is unclear whether SNRI use during pregnancy also increases the risk of PPHN.

Keywords: Pregnancy; SSRI; depression; persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN); quebec pregnancy cohort; venlafaxine.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cohort selection for the analyses of antidepressants and PPHN. AD, antidepressant; ISQ, Quebec Statistics database (patient sociodemographics, birth weight); PPHN, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn
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