The Link Between Antidepressant Use and Infant Pulmonary Hypertension

According to new research that has just been released to the general public, the results have shown that babies of late stage pregnancy mothers may have an elevated risk of high blood pressure in their lungs due to the usage of antidepressants. The study was conducted by Sophie Grigoriadis at the Sunnnybrook Health Sciences Center in Ontario, Canada, and released in BMJ. They discovered that these antidepressants are known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and with further analysis, it was discovered that infants experienced a heightened risk for developing pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) when exposed during a pregnant mother’s later stages of pregnancy.

Knowledge is Power for Pregnant Women

Although the study indicates that the risk is relatively low for pregnant mothers, they still should be made aware of the possibility. Currently, estimates are that for every 1,000 infants born, 2 of those will suffer from the condition. The study also went on to show that SSRI exposure early in the pregnancy did not increase the risk for PPHN. The study stressed the importance of making all women aware of even the small chance of PPHN from SSRI exposure in late pregnancy. Education is the first key in combatting the risk, as well as counseling for women that contract it. For those that were exposed early on in their pregnancy there seemed to be no risk of developing PPHN according to the study.

The Background on Antidepressants

Commonly used to treat major forms of depression in patients as well as anxiety disorders, antidepressants not only include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), but also serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). The danger of taking these lies in infants developing PPHN, which can result in hypoxia, which is a deficiency of circulating oxygen. As a fetus, the lungs are not necessary for oxygen transfer, but as the fetus grows into a fully grown infant, however, lung capacity is necessary for oxygen transfer and requires a high amount of blood flow. Before the current study released these results, earlier ones had made a connection between antidepressant usage and persistent pulmonary hypertension. This further research has led to a dearth of new information that now must be disseminated to pregnant mothers.

How PPHN Is Diagnosed

Pulmonary hypertension is diagnosed when a baby has difficulty pumping oxygen into his or her lungs, and throughout the body’s entire bloodstream. If left untreated, it ca bdeadly “ ven fatal “ and even potential lifelong consequences. For many doctors, it is up to patients to determine what options they want to consider when assessing the risks and potential effects of taking drugs. Most doctors opt to begin a form of psychotherapy in lieu of drugs. I patients sufer from extreme forms of depression, then medication is inevitably prescribed.

The Debate Rages On

For as long as antidepressant drugs have been available to patients, so has the debate among doctors over their usage during pregnancy. Over time, the debate pendulum has swung back and forth as new research has emerged. Indeed, most doctors concede there is no one direction or answer to fit all cases and each pregnancy must be treated as the singular case that it is. The current M.O. is that case-by-case analysis of each pregnant mother is the best way to go.