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Major Birth Defects Caused By Anti-Acne Drugs Must be Prevented, March of Dimes Says
NEW YORK – Jan. 21, 2000 – Americans must be more cautious with the prescription anti-acne drug Accutane (isotretinoin) and other retinoids, which can cause very serious birth defects when used during pregnancy, the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation warned today. The Foundation's comments came in response to a study published today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention documenting several recent Accutane-exposed pregnancies.
The March of Dimes has posted an alert about Accutane use in pregnancy on its Web site at www.marchofdimes.com.
"Even a single pregnancy exposed to Accutane is one too many, given all we know about the severe harm this drug can do to fetuses," said Donald R. Mattison, M.D., medical director of the March of Dimes. "We urge everyone, especially physicians, patients with acne, and pharmacists, to become better educated on the proper use of this drug and to follow the guidelines more carefully." He noted that there is a Pregnancy Prevention Program in place for Accutane, although it appears that not all physicians and their patients are participating.
Dr. Mattison said there is an extremely high risk of fetal malformations if a woman becomes pregnant while taking Accutane, even if she is taking a small amount of the drug for a short period. Birth defects associated with Accutane include: hydrocephaly (enlargement of the fluid-filled spaces in the brain); microcephaly (small head and brain); mental retardation; heart defects; ear and eye abnormalities; cleft lip and palate; and other facial abnormalities. "Accutane and the other retinoids can cause these birth defects in the early weeks after conception, a time when a woman often doesn't know she's pregnant," he said.
Accutane is a member of a family of drugs called retinoids, which are related to vitamin A. Among the other retinoids are Soriatane (actiretin), Tegison (etretinate), and Vesanoid (retinoin). Click here for more information on accutane.
Accutane-Exposed Pregnancies -- California, by E.J. Lammer, M.D., of Children's Hospital, Oakland, and colleagues appeared in MMWR, volume 49, issue 2, January 21, 2000.
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