Commonly prescribed drugs linked to miscarriage

Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are among the commonest drugs prescribed to pregnant women, often used to reduce pain and delay premature delivery.

Yet, a new study -- published in the British Medical Journal -- shows they actually increase the risk of miscarriage.

Researchers in Denmark investigated 1,462 pregnant women who had taken prescriptions for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) during the period 30 days before conception to birth.

"Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in pregnancy is clearly associated with increased risk of miscarriage," the researchers stated. "As non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are widely used, even a small increase in the risk of adverse effects may have major implications for public health."

The study was conducted in the Danish county of North Jutland, where, as part of its tax-funded health care for all inhabitants, the Danish national health service reimburses 50% of all expenditure on a wide range of prescribed medicines, including NSAIDS.

The researchers added that, apart from one unpublished study done in the U.S., "we have not been able to identify any systematic studies of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in pregnant women. We have not found any studies of the association between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and miscarriage in humans."

Despite such a glaring lack of research and knowledge about the effects of such drugs on pregnant women, medical doctors throughout the world continue to prescribe them.

The research study also noted that NSAIDS were prescribed in 71% of the pregnancies surveyed, mostly for benign conditions of the muscles and skeleton.

SOURCE: "Risk of adverse birth outcome and miscarriage in pregnant users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: population based observational study and case-control study," Gunnar Lauge Nielsen, et. al., British Medical Journal, 2001;322:266-270, Feb. 3, 2001.