Effects of maternal bisphosphonate use on fetal and neonatal outcomes. 2014

Sarah B Green, and Ashley L Pappas
Sarah B. Green, Pharm.D., is Postgraduate Year 1 Pharmacy Practice Resident, WakeMed Health and Hospitals, Raleigh, NC; at the time of writing she was Intern, Drug Information, Department of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina Hospitals (UNCH), Chapel Hill. Ashley L. Pappas, Pharm.D., BCPS, is Pharmacy Specialist, Drug Information, Department of Pharmacy, UNCH. sarah.peters.green@gmail.com.

OBJECTIVE A review of case reports and other published data on fetal and neonatal outcomes associated with maternal use of bisphosphonate medications is presented. CONCLUSIONS Bisphosphonates can persist in the bone matrix for years, even after therapy is discontinued, potentially resulting in fetal bisphosphonate exposure during pregnancy. Adverse effects of bisphosphonates on fetal outcomes have been observed in animal studies, but the bisphosphonate doses administered were much higher than those typically used in clinical practice. A literature search of PubMed (1946-May 2014) and ToxNet identified 15 articles describing the use of bisphosphonate medications by women before and/or during pregnancy (in total, the articles described 65 mother-child pairs); the agents used included alendronate, ibandronate, risedronate, etidronate, pamidronate, tiludronate, and zoledronic acid, with the reported durations of use ranging from one-time treatments to periods of months or years. Adverse outcomes possibly attributable to bisphosphonate use included marginal decreases in gestational age and birth weight and transient neonatal electrolyte abnormalities (e.g., hypocalcemia, hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia); however, no long-term health consequences were reported in any infant. Overall, the available published data appear to indicate that maternal bisphosphonate use does not pose a high risk of fetal or neonatal harm. Nonetheless, in cases of known or suspected fetal bisphosphonate exposure, monitoring for neonatal hypocalcemia and associated neuromuscular and cardiac symptoms is advised. CONCLUSIONS A limited body of published data suggests that maternal use of bisphosphonates before or during pregnancy does not have serious fetal or neonatal adverse effects.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011256 Pregnancy Outcome Results of conception and ensuing pregnancy, including LIVE BIRTH; STILLBIRTH; or SPONTANEOUS ABORTION. The outcome may follow natural or artificial insemination or any of the various ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNIQUES, such as EMBRYO TRANSFER or FERTILIZATION IN VITRO. Outcome, Pregnancy,Outcomes, Pregnancy,Pregnancy Outcomes
D011297 Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects The consequences of exposing the FETUS in utero to certain factors, such as NUTRITION PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA; PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS; DRUGS; RADIATION; and other physical or chemical factors. These consequences are observed later in the offspring after BIRTH. Delayed Effects, Prenatal Exposure,Late Effects, Prenatal Exposure
D004164 Diphosphonates Organic compounds which contain P-C-P bonds, where P stands for phosphonates or phosphonic acids. These compounds affect calcium metabolism. They inhibit ectopic calcification and slow down bone resorption and bone turnover. Technetium complexes of diphosphonates have been used successfully as bone scanning agents. Bisphosphonate,Bisphosphonates
D004334 Drug Administration Schedule Time schedule for administration of a drug in order to achieve optimum effectiveness and convenience. Administration Schedule, Drug,Administration Schedules, Drug,Drug Administration Schedules,Schedule, Drug Administration,Schedules, Drug Administration
D005260 Female Females
D006207 Half-Life The time it takes for a substance (drug, radioactive nuclide, or other) to lose half of its pharmacologic, physiologic, or radiologic activity. Halflife,Half Life,Half-Lifes,Halflifes
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D050071 Bone Density Conservation Agents Agents that inhibit BONE RESORPTION and/or favor BONE MINERALIZATION and BONE REGENERATION. They are used to heal BONE FRACTURES and to treat METABOLIC BONE DISEASES such as OSTEOPOROSIS. Antiresorptive Agent,Antiresorptive Agents,Antiresorptive Drugs,Bone Resorption Inhibitors,Bone Resorption Inhibitory Agents,Agent, Antiresorptive,Inhibitors, Bone Resorption,Resorption Inhibitors, Bone

Related Publications

Sarah B Green, and Ashley L Pappas
January 1991, Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN,
Sarah B Green, and Ashley L Pappas
September 1990, Neonatal network : NN,
Sarah B Green, and Ashley L Pappas
September 2005, Clinics in perinatology,
Sarah B Green, and Ashley L Pappas
February 2021, NeoReviews,
Sarah B Green, and Ashley L Pappas
June 2002, Wiener klinische Wochenschrift,
Sarah B Green, and Ashley L Pappas
February 2024, BMC pediatrics,
Sarah B Green, and Ashley L Pappas
October 2023, Food & function,
Sarah B Green, and Ashley L Pappas
October 2017, The Lancet. Child & adolescent health,
Sarah B Green, and Ashley L Pappas
January 1983, Birth (Berkeley, Calif.),
Sarah B Green, and Ashley L Pappas
April 2021, Children (Basel, Switzerland),
Copied contents to your clipboard!