IngentaConnect Furosemide as a Fetal Growth Promoter

Abstract:

Objective: To study the effect of furosemide treatment on fetal growth during pregnancy.

Design and Setting: The control dataset of the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies between 1980 and 1996 was used. Information on furosemide drug exposure was obtained retrospectively from pregnant mothers by means of a questionnaire, and prospectively on the basis of antenatal care log books.

Study Participants: 38 151 pregnant women who had babies without any congenital abnormalities.

Main Outcome Measures: Medically recorded birthweights and gestational ages of 450 newborn infants born to mothers receiving furosemide treatment during pregnancy, and of 37 621 newborn infants born to mothers without furosemide treatment.

Results: During the study period, 1.2% of the included pregnant women were treated with furosemide, mainly in the third trimester of gestation. The mean birthweight was significantly higher (by 123g) and the proportion of low birthweight infants was significantly lower (by 1.7 times) with furosemide treatment during pregnancy (p = 0.01). The mean gestational age was not modified by furosemide treatment but the proportion with preterm births was higher due to the underlying maternal disorders and complications of the pregnancy.

Conclusion: Furosemide is a fetal growth promoter. This is probably a result of indirect effects through the mother; however, clarification of the mechanism requires further study.

Keywords: Birth weight; Diuretics, pharmacodynamics; Fetus; Furosemide, pharmacodynamics; Pregnancy

Language: English

Document Type: Original article

Affiliations: 1: Foundation for the Community Control of Hereditary Diseases, Budapest, Hungary 2: Department of Human Genetics and Teratology, National Center for Epidemiology, Budapest, Hungary *

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