[The use of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors during pregnancy clearly increases the risk of congenital malformations].

Recently, an important study was published concerning the possible teratogenic effects of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Non-diabetic women who had used an ACE inhibitor during the first trimester of pregnancy had a significantly greater chance of giving birth to an infant with congenital malformations than women who had used no or other antihypertensive agents. The excess risk remained even after adjusting for several potential confounders. The results indicate that ACE inhibitors should not be prescribed to women who are likely to become pregnant during the course of treatment.