Lithium exposure during pregnancy increases fetal growth. (February 2021)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Lithium exposure during pregnancy increases fetal growth. (February 2021)
- Main Title:
- Lithium exposure during pregnancy increases fetal growth
- Authors:
- Poels, Eline MP
Sterrenburg, Karin
Wierdsma, André I
Wesseloo, Richard
Beerthuizen, Annemerle
van Dijke, Laura
Lau, Condon
Hoogendijk, Witte JG
Marroun, Hanan El
van Kamp, Inge L
Bijma, Hilmar H
Bergink, Veerle - Abstract:
- Background: Lithium is an effective treatment in pregnancy and postpartum for the prevention of relapse in bipolar disorder, but there is a lack of knowledge about the potential adverse impact on fetal development. Aims: To investigate the impact of lithium exposure on early fetal growth. Methods: In this retrospective observational cohort study, we included all singleton pregnancies of women using lithium and referred for advanced fetal ultrasound scanning between 1994 and 2018 to the University Medical Centers in Leiden and Rotterdam, the Netherlands ( n =119). The Generation R study, a population-based cohort, served as a non-exposed control population from the same geographic region ( n =8184). Fetal head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length, and transcerebellar diameter were measured by ultrasound at 18–22 weeks of gestation. Results: Lithium use during pregnancy was associated with an average increase in head circumference of 1.77 mm (95% confidence interval: 0.53, 3.01), in abdominal circumference of 5.54 mm (95% confidence interval: 3.95, 7.12) and in femur length of 0.59 mm (95% confidence interval: 0.22, 0.96) at 18–22 weeks gestation. Furthermore, lithium use during pregnancy was associated with an average increase in birth weight of 142.43 grams (95% confidence interval: 58.01, 226.89), whereas it was associated with an average decrease of 1.41 weeks in gestational duration (95% confidence interval: −1.78, −1.05). Conclusions: Lithium use duringBackground: Lithium is an effective treatment in pregnancy and postpartum for the prevention of relapse in bipolar disorder, but there is a lack of knowledge about the potential adverse impact on fetal development. Aims: To investigate the impact of lithium exposure on early fetal growth. Methods: In this retrospective observational cohort study, we included all singleton pregnancies of women using lithium and referred for advanced fetal ultrasound scanning between 1994 and 2018 to the University Medical Centers in Leiden and Rotterdam, the Netherlands ( n =119). The Generation R study, a population-based cohort, served as a non-exposed control population from the same geographic region ( n =8184). Fetal head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length, and transcerebellar diameter were measured by ultrasound at 18–22 weeks of gestation. Results: Lithium use during pregnancy was associated with an average increase in head circumference of 1.77 mm (95% confidence interval: 0.53, 3.01), in abdominal circumference of 5.54 mm (95% confidence interval: 3.95, 7.12) and in femur length of 0.59 mm (95% confidence interval: 0.22, 0.96) at 18–22 weeks gestation. Furthermore, lithium use during pregnancy was associated with an average increase in birth weight of 142.43 grams (95% confidence interval: 58.01, 226.89), whereas it was associated with an average decrease of 1.41 weeks in gestational duration (95% confidence interval: −1.78, −1.05). Conclusions: Lithium use during pregnancy was associated with increased fetal growth parameters at 18–22 weeks gestational age and increased birth weight. Further research is needed to evaluate both short- and long-term implications, as well as the mechanisms driving this difference in growth. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Journal of psychopharmacology. Volume 35:Number 2(2021)
- Journal:
- Journal of psychopharmacology
- Issue:
- Volume 35:Number 2(2021)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 35, Issue 2 (2021)
- Year:
- 2021
- Volume:
- 35
- Issue:
- 2
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2021-0035-0002-0000
- Page Start:
- 178
- Page End:
- 183
- Publication Date:
- 2021-02
- Subjects:
- Bipolar disorder -- lithium -- pregnancy -- fetal growth -- birth weight
Psychopharmacology -- Periodicals
615.78 - Journal URLs:
- http://jop.sagepub.com/ ↗
http://www.uk.sagepub.com/home.nav ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1177/0269881120940914 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0269-8811
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
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- 15134.xml