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Pregnancy Outcomes Following Exposure to Quinolone Antibiotics – a Systematic-Review and Meta-Analysis

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  • Theme: The Use of Therapeutics in Pregnancy and Lactation
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Abstract

Purpose

Quinolones, and the fluoroquinolones subgroup, are a class of antibiotics commonly used for the treatment of a wide variety of infections. However, their safety profile in pregnant women is controversial. The association between fluoroquinolones and arthropathy was primarily described in immature animals, and only rarely in humans, yet it has led to the restricted use of quinolones during pregnancy. We aimed to assess their safety during pregnancy.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the safety of quinolone exposure during any time of pregnancy, and during first trimester alone, was performed. The systematic review was performed using MEDLINE and EMBASE, and followed the PRISMA guidelines. Pooled effect sizes with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random effects models, comparing fetal outcomes of quinolone exposed and non-exposed pregnancies. Only cohort and case control studies were included in the meta-analysis.

Result

Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Exposure to quinolones during first trimester was not associated with an increased risk for birth defects (pooled odds ratio (OR) = 0.89, 95% CI 0.72–1.09, I2 = 0%), stillbirth (OR = 1.32, 95% CI 0.33–5.34, I2 = 16%), preterm birth (OR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.83–1.48, I2 = 41%) and low birth weight (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 0.54–3.12, I2 = 67%).

Conclusion

The use of quinolones during the first-trimester of pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of birth defects, stillbirths, preterm births or low birth weight.

Study Registry

PROSPERO CRD42017060573.

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Author notes

  1. Aviva Ziv and Reem Masarwa contributed equally and should be considered as first authors

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmacoepidemiology Research Unit, Division of Clinical Pharmacy Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Aviva Ziv, Reem Masarwa, Amichai Perlman, Danny Ziv & Ilan Matok

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  1. Aviva Ziv
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Correspondence to Ilan Matok.

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Ziv, A., Masarwa, R., Perlman, A. et al. Pregnancy Outcomes Following Exposure to Quinolone Antibiotics – a Systematic-Review and Meta-Analysis. Pharm Res 35, 109 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-018-2383-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-018-2383-8

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