BACKGROUND: Isotretinoin is a known human teratogen, causing birth defects and/or subnormal cognitive performance in prenatally-exposed children. METHODS: A survey was conducted among women who called teratology information services throughout North America. Using a structured questionnaire, women with an isotretinoin-exposed pregnancy were prospectively interviewed before the outcome of the pregnancy was known. RESULTS: Almost 1/4 of the women surveyed (24%; 8/34) did not recall having contraception counseling before starting their medications. Once therapy was initiated, 62% (21/34) recalled using a birth control method, but only 29% (6/21) recalled using 2 forms of birth control, as specified by the voluntary pregnancy prevention programs. Monthly pregnancy tests were not always conducted during treatment, as recalled by the surveyed women (56%; 19/34). As many as 24% (8/34) of the women surveyed recalled that they were not screened using 2 pregnancy tests before receiving a prescription, another recommendation of the programs. Only a small number of the women (30%; 6/20) in the United States recalled being enrolled in any manufacturers' voluntary pregnancy prevention survey. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate that essential components of voluntary pregnancy prevention programs were not consistently followed, which resulted in fetal exposures.
BACKGROUND:Isotretinoin is a known human teratogen, causing birth defects and/or subnormal cognitive performance in prenatally-exposed children. METHODS: A survey was conducted among women who called teratology information services throughout North America. Using a structured questionnaire, women with an isotretinoin-exposed pregnancy were prospectively interviewed before the outcome of the pregnancy was known. RESULTS: Almost 1/4 of the women surveyed (24%; 8/34) did not recall having contraception counseling before starting their medications. Once therapy was initiated, 62% (21/34) recalled using a birth control method, but only 29% (6/21) recalled using 2 forms of birth control, as specified by the voluntary pregnancy prevention programs. Monthly pregnancy tests were not always conducted during treatment, as recalled by the surveyed women (56%; 19/34). As many as 24% (8/34) of the women surveyed recalled that they were not screened using 2 pregnancy tests before receiving a prescription, another recommendation of the programs. Only a small number of the women (30%; 6/20) in the United States recalled being enrolled in any manufacturers' voluntary pregnancy prevention survey. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate that essential components of voluntary pregnancy prevention programs were not consistently followed, which resulted in fetal exposures.
Authors: Ineke Crijns; Sabine Straus; Michiel Luteijn; Christine Gispen-de Wied; June Raine; Lolkje de Jong-van den Berg Journal: Drug Saf Date: 2012-01-01 Impact factor: 5.606
Authors: Martina Teichert; Loes E Visser; Mark Dufour; Eline Rodenburg; Sabine M J M Straus; Peter A G M De Smet; Bruno H Ch Stricker Journal: Drug Saf Date: 2010-04-01 Impact factor: 5.606
Authors: Sarah C MacDonald; Jacqueline M Cohen; Alice Panchaud; Thomas F McElrath; Krista F Huybrechts; Sonia Hernández-Díaz Journal: Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf Date: 2019-07-22 Impact factor: 2.890
Authors: Elisabeth Autret-Leca; Carmen Kreft-Jais; Elisabeth Elefant; Hawaré Cissoko; François Darrouzain; Lamiae Grimaldi-Bensouda; Sarah Attia; Annie Pierre Jonville-Béra Journal: Drug Saf Date: 2010-08-01 Impact factor: 5.606