Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34556849›Full record

ReviewNature reviews. Endocrinology2021

Paracetamol use during pregnancy - a call for precautionary action.

Ann Z Bauer, Shanna H Swan, David Kriebel, Zeyan Liew, Hugh S Taylor, Carl-Gustaf Bornehag, Anderson M Andrade, Jørn Olsen, Rigmor H Jensen, Rod T Mitchell and 3 more

Registry-linked trialOpen access · hybridAbstract readReviewConsensus Statement
In one paragraph

Review in Nature reviews. Endocrinology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07316387 (Neurobehavioral Development in Toddlers and Preschoolers in Relation to Prenatal Exposure of Mild Analgesics), which is not on this map. Cited by 105 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
105citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
26.3field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
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.

NCT07316387 enrolling by invitationnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Neurobehavioral Development in Toddlers and Preschoolers in Relation to Prenatal Exposure of Mild Analgesics

TypeobservationalSponsorRigshospitalet, DenmarkRan2024 to 2028Enrolled685ConditionsGonad Regulating Hormone Adverse Reaction, Analgesic Adverse Reaction, Developmental Disability, Adhd
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

105 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 203 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Prenatal exposure to paracetamol and risk of autism spectrum disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.Revista brasileira de ginecologia e obstetricia : revista da Federacao Brasileira das Sociedades de Ginecologia e Obstetricia · 2026
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  9. TLR9-mediated innate immune signaling contributes to acetaminophen-induced injury in the developing lung.American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology · 2026
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45 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors at 9 institutions in 6 countries.

Ann Z BauerDepartment of Public Health, University of Massachusetts School of Health Sciences, Lowell, MA, USA.
Shanna H SwanDepartment of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA.
David KriebelDepartment of Public Health, University of Massachusetts School of Health Sciences, Lowell, MA, USA.
Zeyan LiewYale Center for Perinatal, Paediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
Hugh S TaylorDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA.
Carl-Gustaf BornehagDepartment of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA.
Anderson M AndradeDepartamento de Fisiologia, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5199-2810
Jørn OlsenDepartment of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Rigmor H JensenDepartment of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6433-5887
Rod T MitchellMRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Niels E SkakkebaekDepartment of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Bernard JégouUniv Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) UMR_S, 1085, Rennes, France.
David M KristensenDepartment of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. david@moebjerg.com.
University of Copenhagen · DKAarhus University · DKIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · USInserm · FRKarlstad University · SEMRC Centre for Reproductive Health · GBProvidence Center · USUniversidade Federal do Paraná · BRYale New Haven Hospital · US

Funding

Yale Clinical and Translational Science Award (U Component)UL1TR001863 · NCATS · YALE UNIVERSITY · PI John H. Krystal, LUCILA OHNO-MACHADO · 2016 to 2026
$102.9M
Medical Research Council MR/S017151/1NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR001863
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Paracetamol (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP), otherwise known as acetaminophen) is the active ingredient in more than 600 medications used to relieve mild to moderate pain and reduce fever. APAP is widely used by pregnant women as governmental agencies, including the FDA and EMA, have long considered APAP appropriate for use during pregnancy when used as directed. However, increasing experimental and epidemiological research suggests that prenatal exposure to APAP might alter fetal development, which could increase the risks of some neurodevelopmental, reproductive and urogenital disorders. Here we summarize this evidence and call for precautionary action through a focused research effort and by increasing awareness among health professionals and pregnant women. APAP is an important medication and alternatives for treatment of high fever and severe pain are limited. We recommend that pregnant women should be cautioned at the beginning of pregnancy to: forego APAP unless its use is medically indicated; consult with a physician or pharmacist if they are uncertain whether use is indicated and before using on a long-term basis; and minimize exposure by using the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. We suggest specific actions to implement these recommendations. This Consensus Statement reflects our concerns and is currently supported by 91 scientists, clinicians and public health professionals from across the globe.

Indexed as

AcetaminophenFetal DevelopmentFemaleHumansPregnancyAcetaminophen

Identifiers

PMID34556849
PMCPMC8580820
OpenAlexW3198986471

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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.