ACE Inhibitors
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an alert to warn women
and their doctors about the possible risks of taking ACE (angiotensin-converting
enzyme) inhibitors during early pregnancy.
A common class of blood pressure medications known as angiotensin-converting
enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may increase the risk of birth defects if taken
during the first three months of pregnancy suggests a new study published
in the New England Journal of Medicine. The results of the study revealed
that infants whose mothers used ACE-Inhibitors during the first-trimester
were 2.7 times more likely to have birth defects of the cardiovascular
and central nervous systems than those not exposed to ACE Inhibitors.
The FDA already issued strong “black box” warnings regarding
the use of ACE Inhibitors during the second and third trimester of pregnancy.
However, this study is the first to point out the possible dangers of
ACE inhibitors taken during the first trimester. The FDA requires more
research before it will consider changing the warning label on ACE Inhibitors
to include risks regarding first-trimester exposure. However, the FDA
is notifying doctors and patients about the increased risks through its
website.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are a type of blood pressure
medication used to treat high blood pressure, also known as hypertension,
and congestive heart failure. ACE Inhibitors are known to block an enzyme
in the body that causes blood vessels to tighten. This allows blood vessels
to relax thereby lowering blood pressure and increasing the supply of
blood and oxygen to the heart.
In the study, the risk of major birth defects in children whose mothers
took ACE inhibitors during the first trimester was nearly three times
higher than in children whose mothers did not take blood pressure medication.
The birth defects ranged from holes in the chambers of the heart to spinal
deformations. No increased risk was identified for other blood pressure
medications.
There are a number of blood pressure medications that are classified
as ACE inhibitors including:
Lotensin® (benazepril)
Capoten® (captopril)
Vasotec® (enalapril)
Monopril® (fosinopril)
Prinivil®, Zestril® (lisinopril)
Univasc® (moexipril)
Aceon® (perindopril)
Accupril® (quinapril)
Altace® (ramipril)
Mavik® (trandolapril)
If you have taken any of these drugs in the last 20 years and have had
a child with a birth defect or death or if you believe that a birth injury
occurred due to possible effects from an ACE inhibitor during pregnancy,
please contact our service so we can help you get in touch with attorneys
who are experienced with this type of litigation.
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