About Us Portfolio Press Careers Sitemap Advertise Contact Us Make this your Homepage

Custom Search

Register

Sign In

Sign In Using Facebook

Home » Drug News

Immunosuppressant Drug Causes Birth Defects

February 08, 2008 at 4:38 PM Drug News

A study has shown that congenital defects are seen in children whose mothers have had a kidney transplant and have taken an immunosuppressant drug, called mycophenolate mofetil (MMF).

Related Links

The findings of the study have suggested that MMF, commercially available as Cellcept, has potentially harmful effects on the foetus and may result in defects like cleft lip and palate, as well as defects of the jaw, eyes and ears, and no external ear canals.

However, the foetal side-effects of several immunosuppressant drugs have been studied, though not for widely used newer medications, such as (MMF).

Immunosuppressant drugs are essential for life-long treatment for solid organ transplant recipients. They are used to prevent, inhibit or reduce the natural reaction of the immune system against foreign tissues. But they have important side effects that sometimes result in ruling out their use. Immunosupressants are also given to women with severe autoimmune diseases, such as generalized lupus.

The FDA has dvided immunosuppressants into four categories (A, B, C and D) based on toxicity to the foetus. MMF has recently been upgraded to class D during pregnancy, imlying that its use is prohibited for the high risk of foetal malformations.

The study led by Dr. Antonio Perez-Aytes and Dr. Maximo Vento of the Newborn Research Unit at the Hospital Universitario Materno-Infantil La Fe, in Valencia, Spain, described a 25-year-old Spanish woman who had undergone two kidney transplants.

Page 1

Page 1 | 2

Next

Age Plays a Major Role in the Increase of Respiratory Disturbances During Sleep

�Touchy� Issues With Alcohol and Stress

More News on: Achondroplasia, Drug Toxicity, Birth Defect - Genetic, Birth Defects - Introduction, Environmental Birth Defects, Birth defects - Infections, Multifactorial Birth Defects, Birth Defect - Structural Defects, Klinefelters Syndrome, Amniocentesis

Comment & Contribute

Be the first to comment!
Comments should be on the topic and should not be abusive. Comments are normally moderated and are reviewed after they are posted.
* Your comment can be maximum of 2500 characters
	Notify me when reply is posted I agree to the terms and conditions
Your comments are automatically posted once they are submitted. All comments are however constantly reviewed for spam and irrelevant material (such as product or personal advertisements, email addresses, telephone numbers and website address). Such insertions do not conform to our policy and 'Terms of Use' and are either deleted or edited and republished. Please keep your comments brief and relevant.This section may also have questions seeking help. If you have the information you are welcome to respond, but please ensure that the information so provided is genuine and not misleading.

Medwonders Health Network

Support Groups Members Discussions

Total Members - 54318
Support Groups - 445

Health News Index

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Latest News Most Popular Most Commented

Daughter Cuts Off Cancer Fighting Mother's Hair

Growth in Early Life May Well Forecast Adult Bone Health, Points Delhi Study

Drugs Factory Sealed by Pakistan After Deaths

Indicator for Alzheimer's Disease Could Distress Mental Function Even In Healthy Adults

New Proof Touch-Sensing Nerve Cells Can Aggravate 'Ringing In the Ears'

News Archive
Date :
Category :
Keyword :

News Quick Links

	News Central			Health Watch
	Latest Health News			Health In Focus
	News Category (500+)			Breaking Health News
	Popular News			Celebrating Life
	Health News and Press Release			Medindia - Exclusive
	News Photo Gallery			India Special
	News Video Gallery			Lifestyle and Wellness
	News From Other Resources

News Categories:


»	Daughter Cuts Off Cancer Fighting Mother's Hair

»	New Genetic Subtype of Lung Cancer Defined by Massachusetts General Study

»	Research Indicates Surgical Breast Biopsy is Not Overused

»	Variability in Rate of Additional Surgery Following Partial Mastectomy

»	Study Points Out the Manner in Which the 'Panic Button' Causes Cancer Cells to Evolve Resistance to Drugs
More Cancer News

Drug Related News
»	Showing Superbugs Turning Resistant To Antibiotics	»	New Drug Improves Survival Rate in Advanced Prostate Cancer Patients: Clinical Trial
»	Birth Control Pills Recalled in US by Pfizer Over Packaging Error	»	New Drug Delivery System Developed by Boston University Researchers
»	Clinical Trial Shows Arthritis and Cholesterol Drugs are Well Tolerated in Prostate Cancer Treatment	»	New Drug Kalydeco for Rare Cystic Fibrosis Approved in US
»	Key Players in Pharma Industry Sign Up to New Tropical Disease Fight	»	Ketamine to Treat Depression?

Read More >>

Accident and Trauma Care Support Group	Achondroplasia Support Group	Acupuncture Support Group
Albinism / Hypopigmentation / Albinos Support Group	Alcohol abuse / Alcohol dependence / Alcoholism Support Group	Aromatherapy Support Group
Avian Influenza / Bird Flu Support Group	Ayurveda Support Group	Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Support Group

Immunosuppressant Drug Causes Birth Defects

Medwonders Health Network

Drug Related News

Consumers

Medical Professionals

Medical Students

Directories