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JOHN D. CARTER, ANIL LADHANI, LOUIS R. RICCA, JOANNE VALERIANO, and FRANK B. VASEY ABSTRACT. Objective. To present any congenital anomalies with respect to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists reported to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine if there are common findings. Methods. A review of the FDA database of reported adverse events with etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab from 1999 through December of 2005 was performed. Key words for congenital anomalies were employed as search tools. Duplicate reports were eliminated. Any concomitant medicines were recorded. Results. Our review of > 120,000 adverse events revealed a total of 61 congenital anomalies in 41 children born to mothers taking a TNF antagonist. Of these mothers, 22 took etanercept and 19 took infliximab. There were no reports in women taking adalimumab. The most common reported congenital anomaly was some form of heart defect. Twenty-four of the 41 (59%) children had one or more congenital anomalies that are part of vertebral abnormalities, anal atresia, cardiac defect, tracheoesophageal, renal, and limp abnormalities (VACTERL) association. There were 34 specific types of congenital anomalies in total, and 19 (56%) of those are part of the VACTERL spectrum. Nine of these 19 (47%) types of VACTERL anomalies were observed statistically significantly more than historical controls (p < 0.01); in 4 of these 9 the p value was ≤ 0.0001. Thirteen (32%) of the children had more than one congenital anomaly; 7 of these 13 children had 2 defects that are part of the VACTERL spectrum. However, only 1 child was diagnosed with VACTERL. In 24/41 cases (59%) the mother was taking no other concomitant medications. Conclusion. A seemingly high number of congenital anomalies that are part of the VACTERL spectrum have been reported. These congenital anomalies are occurring at a rate higher than historical controls. This commonality raises concerns of a possible causative effect of the TNF antagonists. (J Rheumatol First Release Dec 15 2008; doi:10.3899/jrheum.080545) Key Indexing Terms: TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR ANTAGONISTS PREGNANCY SAFETY From the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, USA. J.D. Carter, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine; A. Ladhani, medical student; L.R. Ricca, MD; J. Valeriano, MD; F.B. Vasey, MD, University of South Florida College of Medicine. Address reprint requests to Dr. J.D. Carter, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 81, Tampa, FL 33612. E-mail: jocarter@health.usf.edu Accepted for publication September 17, 2008. |
