[Evaluation of the effect of drug intake during pregnancy based on the Monitoring Surveillance of the Pathogenesis of Congenital Anomalies].

The data of the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies, 1980-1987 were evaluated concerning drug intake during pregnancy in 10,698 index patients, 21,564 negative controls and 828 positive controls. Excluding pregnancy supplements, the proportion of no drug users was about 30% and the mean number of drugs used was 2.0 in negative control group. These figures did not differ significantly from data of study and positive control groups. The analysis of most commonly used drugs indicated an extremely high proportion of hormonal support therapy. The teratogenic effect of several human teratogenic drugs was confirmed. However, their use is relatively rare and their attributable risk within the etiology of congenital anomalies is low, at about 0.3-1.0%. At present the teratogenic risk of drugs in humans is exaggerated and it has several unfortunate con-sequences: negligence of necessary drug use, unnecessary anxiety in pregnant women, termination of planned pregnancies without any reasonable cause.