Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26613360›Full record

SynthesisBritish journal of clinical pharmacology2016

The risk of major cardiac malformations associated with paroxetine use during the first trimester of pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Anick Bérard, Noha Iessa, Sonia Chaabane, Flory T Muanda, Takoua Boukhris, Jin-Ping Zhao

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in British journal of clinical pharmacology, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 40 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
40citing papers in PubMed, 7 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

40 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  12. Drug Repositioning in Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity Protection.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Anick BérardResearch Center, CHU Ste-Justine, Montreal, Quebec.
Noha IessaResearch Center, CHU Ste-Justine, Montreal, Quebec.
Sonia ChaabaneResearch Center, CHU Ste-Justine, Montreal, Quebec.
Flory T MuandaResearch Center, CHU Ste-Justine, Montreal, Quebec.
Takoua BoukhrisResearch Center, CHU Ste-Justine, Montreal, Quebec.
Jin-Ping ZhaoResearch Center, CHU Ste-Justine, Montreal, Quebec.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsThe aim of this study was to perform an up-to-date meta-analysis on the risk of cardiac malformations associated with gestational exposure to paroxetine, taking into account indication, study design and reference category.

methodA systematic review of studies published between 1966 and November 2015 was conducted using embase and MEDLINE. Studies reporting major malformations with first trimester exposure to paroxetine were included. Potentially relevant articles were assessed and relevant data extracted to calculate risk estimates. Outcomes included any major malformations and major cardiac malformations. Pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random-effects models.

resultsTwenty-three studies were included. Compared with non-exposure to paroxetine, first trimester use of paroxetine was associated with an increased risk of any major congenital malformations combined (pooled OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.10, 1.38; n = 15 studies), major cardiac malformations (pooled OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.11, 1.47; n = 18 studies), specifically bulbus cordis anomalies and anomalies of cardiac septal closure (pooled OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.07, 1.89; n = 8 studies), atrial septal defects (pooled OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.14, 4.97; n = 4 studies) and right ventricular outflow track defect (pooled OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.06, 4.93; n = 4 studies). Although the estimates varied depending on the comparator group, study design and malformation detection period, a trend towards increased risk was observed.

conclusionsParoxetine use during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of any major congenital malformations and cardiac malformations. The increase in risk is not dependent on the study method or population.

Indexed as

Abnormalities, Drug-InducedFemaleHeart Defects, CongenitalHumansMaternal ExposureParoxetinePregnancyPregnancy Trimester, FirstRisk AssessmentSelective Serotonin Reuptake InhibitorsParoxetineSelective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitorscardiac malformationsmajor malformationsmeta-analysisparoxetinepregnancy

Identifiers

PMID26613360
PMCPMC4799922

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.