August 2016
/Pregnancy outcome following maternal exposure to pregabalin may call for concern.
Neurology 86:2251-2257
This observational cohort study found a significantly higher major birth defect rate among women exposed to pregabalin through pregnancy (OR 3.0, 1.2-7.9). Data was ascertained through TIS.
Maternal use of oral contraceptives and risk of birth defects in Denmark: prospective, nationwide cohort study
Large observational cohort study of contraceptive use and major birth defects collected from 880000 live births from Danish registries. There was with recent contraceptive use (0-3 months).
The Brazilian Zika virus strain causes birth defects in experimental models.
This paper gives a good description of the history of Zika virus from in first description in 1947 to its appearance in Brazil in 2013. The authors have developed a mouse model which shows how Zika crosses the placenta and causes microcephaly by targeting cortical progenitor cells.
Occurrence of pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes during isotretinoin therapy.
Of 60,000 female patients receiving isotretinoin, 24.3% - 32.9% of participants received prescriptions for oral contraceptives. By 42 weeks after treatment, there were 1473 pregnancies (24.9/1000 users). Of these, 90% terminated spontaneously or were terminated by medical intervention. Among the 118 live births were 11 (9.3%) cases of congenital malformation.