Use of Medication during Pregnancy and Risk of Childhood Leukemia (Canada)

Objective: To examine risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) associated with maternal use of medications during pregnancy; in particular medications known or suspected to be teratogenic. Methods: Seven hundred and eighty nine children (< 15 years old) diagnosed with ALL in the provi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancer causes & control 2004-11, Vol.15 (9), p.931-937
Main Authors: Shaw, Amanda K., Infante-Rivard, Claire, Morrison, Howard I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Canada - epidemiology
Cancer
Case-Control Studies
Child
Child, Preschool
Childhood
Children
Depressants
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
Epidemiology
Families & family life
Female
Fetuses
Health insurance
Hormones
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Interviews
Interviews as Topic
Leukemia
Lymphocytic leukemia
Male
Maternal Exposure - adverse effects
Medications
Occupational health
Oral contraceptives
Parents & parenting
Pharmaceutical Preparations - administration & dosage
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma - chemically induced
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma - epidemiology
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Questionnaires
Risk Factors
Teratogens
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Description
Summary:Objective: To examine risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) associated with maternal use of medications during pregnancy; in particular medications known or suspected to be teratogenic. Methods: Seven hundred and eighty nine children (< 15 years old) diagnosed with ALL in the province of Québec between 1980 and 2000 were recruited for study. A similar number of population based controls matched to cases (1:1) by sex and age were chosen from family allowance or health insurance files. Information was gathered via telephone interview with the subjects' parents. Data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression. Results: Risk of childhood ALL was significantly increased in the offspring of mothers who reported using any medication (adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.0-1.6) or any teratogenic medication (ORadj= 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1-1.9) during pregnancy. Among specific medication categories, only central nervous system depressants were associated with a significantly increased risk, although elevated odd ratios were found for anti-epileptics, immunosuppressants, oral contraceptives, and illicit drugs. Risk associated with use of teratogenic medications was higher with increased dose and in children diagnosed before two years of age. Conclusion: A modest increase in risk of ALL was found among children of mothers who used medication during pregnancy.
ISSN:0957-5243
1573-7225
DOI:10.1007/s10552-004-2230-6