Abstract
This study was designed, on experimental basis, as a trial to assess
the frequency of occurrence of congenital malformations secondary to the
use of gabapentin (Neurontin) during pregnancy and to study the dosefrequency
relationship. The study comprised 100 newly getting pregnant
female albino rats divided into 5 equal groups: group I (Control group)
rats were kept on normal diet, group II rats were kept on the control diet
supplemented with gabapentin in a dose about 50% of the maximum recommended
human dose (MRHD), group III, IV & V received gabapentin
about I, 2 & 4 times of MRHD, respectively. All rats were followed-up till
parturition for completion of course of pregnancy. and occurrence of bleeding,
and newborn pups were examined for the presence of congenital
anomalies. No abnormal course or outcome of pregnancy occurred in
groups I & II apart from one rat pup in group II showed delayed ossification
of the skull, but administration of gabapentin resulted in abnormal
follow-up in 20 rats in groups Delayed ossification was the most frequent
effect of exposure to gabapentin, and was encountered in 6 rat
pups, post-implantation fetal loss occurred in 5 rats, two rat pups in
groups IV had cyclops holoprosencephaly; 5 rats had hydroureter in
groups IV & V. and 3 rats had hydrops of urinary tract one in group IV
and 2 in group V. There was a positive significant correlation between the
increase of dose and frequency of occurrence of anomalies. (r--.0.381,
P<0.001). We can conclude that exposure to gabapentin during pregnancy
especially through the period of organogenesis is associated with the
possibility of loss of pregnancy or of getting a newborn with congenital
malformations and that the incidence of such side effects is dose dependent. |
