Latest research has revealed that expecting mothers who use anti-inflammatory drugs in the beginning stages of pregnancy suffer risk of miscarriage two to four times higher than those who do not use these drugs. The study was carried out by Canadian researchers from the University of Montreal. The study was reported in recent issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.Anti-inflammatory drugs, which are non-aspirin NSAIDs, are very common drugs that are used in pregnancy. Some of the drugs in this class are naproxen, diclofenac, ibuprofen and celecoxib. These drugs do not need a prescription as well. The latest research suggests that the use of these drugs can cause abortions. Nevertheless, the study has added a byword that the results of the study pointing towards the use of these drugs as possible causes of abortions are inconsistent.
The study was conducted by CHU Ste-Justine in Quebec and University of Montreal, in collaboration with the French institute Ecole NAtionale de la Statisque et de l’Analyse de l’Information, Rennes. The study aimed at determining the type of anti-inflammatory drugs and their dosage that pose the maximum risk for miscarriage. For the study, 4705 women who had suffered abortions up to the 20th week of pregnancy were considered. The age of women in the study group ranged between 15 and 45 when they conceived.
In Quebec, not all the common anti-inflammatory drugs are available over the counter except ibuprofen. Ibuprofen, follows the most common drug, which is Naproxen. The lead author of the study, Dr. Anick Berard, who is the Director of Medications and Pregnancy research unit in CHU Ste-Justine and the lead author of the study, said that the use of these anti-inflammatory drugs increase the risk of spontaneous miscarriage by up to four times. He also said that intake of non-aspirin NSAID could have an adverse affect on an expecting mother when used as a single drug or when in used in a combination of drugs such as diclofenac and rofecoxib.
The study also found that maximum miscarriages happened with the use of diclofenac while the least cases were registered when rofecoxib was used. These drugs caused congenital malformations, thus heightening the risk of miscarriage. Interestingly, the dosage was not a criterion that caused miscarriage. The results of the study have matched other studies carried out in the same niche that the type of drug and dosage were considered. Authors of the study have cautioned both pregnant women and doctors against the use of the drug.