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BBC NEWS, 2003/08/15
It
follows a study which suggests that some painkillers may
increase the chances of having a miscarriage. The risk applies
to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs or
NSAIDs, such
as ibuprofen and aspirin. However, the study, which is published
in the British Medical Journal, confirmed that taking paracetamol
during pregnancy
is safe. The finding backs up a previous study by researchers
in Denmark, published in 2001, who also reported a possible
link between
NSAIDs and miscarriage.
These latest findings are based on a survey of 1,055 pregnant
women by researchers in California.
Higher risk
They found that women who took NSAIDs increased their chances
of having a miscarriage by 80%. There were similar risks for
women who took aspirin. However, the researchers acknowledged
that those figures may not be
totally reliable because of the small number of women who had
reported taking it.
The
study suggests that taking these drugs around the time of
conception may be particularly risky. Women who took NSAIDs
at the beginning of their pregnancy where
fives times more likely to miscarry compared to women who took
the drugs at a later stage. The study did not look specifically
at the dosage taken by the women.
However, the researchers said women who took pills for more
than one week were most at risk. The results were not affected
by other factors, such as whether the women regularly consumed
coffee or alcohol, which may also
increase the risks of a miscarriage. The study found that taking
paracetamol did not increase the risks of having a miscarriage.
This may be because paracetamol acts only on the central nervous
system. NSAIDs in contrast treat the entire body. The researchers
suggested this could lead to the embryo not being implanted
properly in the womb, increasing the chances of a miscarriage.
Further research
The researchers from the Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
said further studies are needed to confirm their findings.
But they suggested women should avoid taking NSAIDs before
becoming pregnant.
Writing in the BMJ, they said: "It may be prudent for
physicians and women who are planning to be pregnant to be
aware of this potential risk and avoid using NSAIDs around
conception."
However, Dr Melanie Davies, of the Royal College of Obstetricians
and Gynaecologists', advised pregnant women not to be "unduly
concerned".
"It has been advised for some time that women who
know they are pregnant should avoid these painkillers, particularly
as
paracetamol is an effective alternative," she said.
"It is important to note that this is a very small
study and the authors of the paper emphasise that their findings
need
confirmation by further studies designed specifically to examine
the apparent association.
"Any woman who does have concerns about the findings
of this study should discuss them with her midwife or GP at
her next
appointment."
Ruth Bender Atik, national director of the UK's Miscarriage
Association, said:
"This new study would seem to confirm
current medical advice that women should, where possible, avoid
taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during pregnancy.
"Additional indications that aspirin may increase
the risk of miscarriage should be viewed more cautiously, however."
Many women are prescribed aspirin by their doctor to reduce
the risk of miscarriage or pre-eclampsia. A study by researchers
at the Institute of Health Sciences in Oxford, published in
2001, reported that taking low-dose
aspirin may help women have a successful pregnancy.
They found that women who took low doses of the painkiller
were less likely to have a stillbirth, or to develop the life-threatening
condition pre-eclampsia. They also found that the drug can
reduce the chances of premature birth.
"This group of women may well be confused by research
which suggests that the medication which they have been prescribed
to reduce miscarriage risk is possibly likely to increase it," said
Ms Bender Atik.
"The authors note that further studies are needed
to confirm their initial findings and we would endorse that
suggestion."
© BBC
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