Teratogenicity drug-induced

Similarly, fentanyl is a teratogenic drug contraindicated for use during pregnancy. The fentanyl patch does not induce anesthesia (loss of consciousness) but does produce analgesia. 

Although the concept of drug-induced teratogenicity was well established at the time thalidomide was being developed, questions remain today as to whether the effects on embryo-fetal development would have been detected using the standard testing methods. 

Approximately 30% of patients using sulfasalazine discontinue the drug because of toxicity. Common adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, headache, and rash. Hemolytic anemia and methemoglobinemia also occur, but rarely. Neutropenia occurs in 1-5% of patients, while thrombocytopenia is very rare. Pulmonary toxicity and positive double-stranded DNA are occasionally seen, but drug-induced lupus is rare. Reversible infertility occurs in men, but sulfasalazine does not affect fertility in women. The drug does not appear to be teratogenic. 

A book of interest is "Chemically Induced Birth Defects," by Schardein (ref. 6). This reference book contains data on human and animal studies on birth defects and teratogens. Drugs are covered extensively. Chemicals discussed are pesticides, metals, industrial solvents, diagnostic agents, dyes, radioactive chemicals, plastics, toxins, food additives, air-water-soil pollutants, personal chemicals, etc. 

Pregnancy (A). Limb malformations induced by the hypnotic thalidomide (Contergan) first focused attention on the potential of drugs to cause malformations (teratogenicity). Drug effects on the unborn fall into two basic categories ... 

The thalidomide analogs CPS49 (30) and CPS11 (31) have been reported to inhibit PI3/AKT signaling in multiple myeloma cells via an anti-angiogenic effect. These compounds are devoid of the teratogenic properties seen with thalidomide and are currently in preclinical development [66]. Compound 30, and to a lesser extent 31, induced a dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation in several multiple myeloma cell lines and reduced phospho-AKT levels [66]. These compounds also inhibited DNA synthesis in cell lines resistant to conventionally used anti-multiple myeloma drugs (e.g. dexamethasone, anthracyclines and melphalan) in a dose-dependent manner. 

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