Antithyroid drug use during pregnancy and the risk of birth defects in offspring: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies with methodological considerations.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Maternal antithyroid drug (ATD) use during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of birth defects in offspring. Uncertainty remains on the size of this risk and how it compares to untreated hyperthyroidism due to methodological limitations of previous studies.

Methods

Systematic review of MEDLINE and EMBASE identifying observational studies examining ATD use during pregnancy and risk of birth defects by 28 August 2020. Data were extracted on study characteristics, effect estimates and comparator groups. Adjusted effect estimates were pooled using a random-effects generic inverse variance method and absolute risk calculated.

Results

Seven cohort studies and 1 case-control study involving 6 212 322 pregnancies and 388 976 birth defects were identifie

SUBMITTER: Morales DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11497346 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature