4 – Teratogenic medications
Medications used during pregnancy should also be
carefully assessed. Stromland et al. (1994) found
four cases of autism among 100 victims of prenatal
exposure to the severely teratogenic substance
thalidomide [1]. Malformations of the limbs caused
this drug to be taken off the market in 1961, and 81 of
the cases reviewed by Stromland et al. had
deformities of the limbs. They were able to locate and
examine 86 individuals and found oculomotor defects
in 43. Of the four cases of autism, two were deaf and
a third had severe hearing impairment; the fourth had
moderate hearing loss and was echolalic.
Christianson et al. (1994), Williams and Hersh
(1997), and Williams et al. (2001) have reported
autism in children born to mothers taking valproic acid
seizure medication during pregnancy [2-4]. The case
of autism described by Christianson et al. had
problems at birth and in the neonatal period. His
older brother had verbal deficits and was in a special
education program. Christianson et al. described
another sibling pair who were both delayed in
language acquisition, but neither displayed autistic
behaviors. On the other hand, Moore et al (2000) in a
study of 57 children with fetal anticonvulsant
syndromes observed a spectrum of autistic disorders:
Four had a diagnosis of autism, two of Asperger
syndrome, and 34 (60 percent) had two or more
autistic features [5].
With reports of ever increasing numbers of
children with autism, it would seem to be time to
reevaluate what makes for a safe prenatal
environment. As a society we use too many unnatural
substances without a second thought as to whether
aspirin, Tylenol, antibiotics, diet soda, sugar-free
yogurt, or myriad other commonplace things we
consume might be harmful.
- Stromland K et al. (1994)
Autism in thalidomide
embryopathy: a population
study.
- Christianson AL et al. (1994)
Fetal valproate syndrome:
clinical and neuro-
developmental features in
two sibling pairs.
- Williams PG, Hersh JH
(1997) A male with fetal
valproate syndrome and
autism.
- Williams G et al. (2001) Fetal
valproate syndrome and
autism: additional evidence
of an association.
- Moore SJ et al. (2000) A
clinical study of 57 children
with fetal anticonvulsant
syndromes.
- Stromland K, Nordin V, Miller M, Akerstrom B, and Gillberg C (1994) Autism in
thalidomide embryopathy: a population study. Developmental Medicine and Child
Neurology 36:351-356.
- Christianson AL, Chesler N, and Kromberg JGR (1994) Fetal valproate syndrome:
clinical and neuro-developmental features in two sibling pairs. Developmental
Medicine and Child Neurology 36:357-369.
- Williams PG & Hersh JH (1997) A male with fetal valproate syndrome and autism.
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 39:632-634.
- Williams G, King J, Cunningham M, Stephan M, Kerr B, Hersh JH. (2001) Fetal valproate
syndrome and autism: additional evidence of an association. Developmental Medicine
and Child Neurology 43:202-206.
- Moore SJ, Turnpenny P, Quinn A, Glover S, Lloyd DJ, Montgomery T, Dean JC (2000) A
clinical study of 57 children with fetal anticonvulsant syndromes. Journal of Medical
Genetics. 37:489-497.