β-Blocker Use in Pregnancy and the Risk for Congenital Malformations
Authors: Brian T. Bateman, Krista F. Huybrechts, Sonia Hernandez-Diaz, Helle Kieler, Helga Zoega
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2019)

Letters18 June 2019β-Blocker Use in Pregnancy and the Risk for Congenital MalformationsBrian T. Bateman, MD, MSc, Krista F. Huybrechts, MS, PhD, Sonia Hernandez-Diaz, MD, DrPH, Helle Kieler, MD, PhD, and Helga Zoega, MA, PhDBrian T. Bateman, MD, MScBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (B.T.B., K.F.H.), Krista F. Huybrechts, MS, PhDBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (B.T.B., K.F.H.), Sonia Hernandez-Diaz, MD, DrPHHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (S.H.), Helle Kieler, MD, PhDKarolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (H.K.), and Helga Zoega, MA, PhDUniversity of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (H.Z.)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L19-0157 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:In our study, we considered β-blockers as a class in our assessment of their risk for congenital malformations and did not observe a substantial increase in the risk for overall or cardiac malformations. We considered these agents as a class because several previous studies suggesting an increased risk for congenital malformations evaluated them as such (1, 2). Further, the medications in this class have a shared mechanism of action that could be associated with an increased risk for malformations. Our null results for overall and cardiac malformations probably exclude a large increase in risk associated with the most ...References1. Yakoob MY, Bateman BT, Ho E, et al. The risk of congenital malformations associated with exposure to ß-blockers early in pregnancy: a meta-analysis. Hypertension. 2013;62:375-81. [PMID: 23753416] doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.111.00833 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Fisher SC, Van Zutphen AR, Werler MM, et al; National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Maternal antihypertensive medication use and congenital heart defects: updated results from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Hypertension. 2017;69:798-805. [PMID: 28373593] doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.08773 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Bateman BT, Huybrechts KF, Fischer MA, et al. Chronic hypertension in pregnancy and the risk of congenital malformations: a cohort study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2015;212:337. [PMID: 25265405] doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2014.09.031 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (B.T.B., K.F.H.)Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (S.H.)Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (H.K.)University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (H.Z.)Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M18-0338. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee Alsoβ-Blocker Use in Pregnancy and the Risk for Congenital Malformations Brian T. Bateman , Uffe Heide-Jørgensen , Kristjana Einarsdóttir , Anders Engeland , Kari Furu , Mika Gissler , Sonia Hernandez-Diaz , Helle Kieler , Anna-Maria Lahesmaa-Korpinen , Helen Mogun , Mette Nørgaard , Johan Reutfors , Randi Selmer , Krista F. Huybrechts , and Helga Zoega β-Blocker Use in Pregnancy and the Risk for Congenital Malformations Alena Shantsila , D. Gareth Beevers , and Gregory Y.H. Lip Metrics Cited byMetoprolol Inhibits Developmental Brain Sterol Biosynthesis in MiceMedication Use During Pregnancy in the Intensive Care Unit 18 June 2019Volume 170, Issue 12Page: 909-910KeywordsDatabasesDisclosureEpileptic seizuresForecastingHospitalizationsObservational studiesPregnancyRespiratory distress syndromeSafetySepsis ePublished: 18 June 2019 Issue Published: 18 June 2019 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2019 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...