Question - Two recent studies (listed below) funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have linked opioid use during early pregnancy to a twofold increased risk for what congenital malformations?
Answer - The cited articles report “some congenital heart defects, neural tube defects, and gastroschisis and highlight the need for a review of the entire body of evidence related to this critical, yet less discussed, public health concern”. (Broussard CS, et al; National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Maternal treatment with opioid analgesics and risk for birth defects. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011;204(4): 314.e1–314.e11 and Yazdy MM, et al. Periconceptional use of opioids and the risk of neural tube defects. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;122(4):838–844pmid:24084542)