Long-term neurodevelopment of children exposed to maternal nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and diclectin.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the effects of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) and its treatment with diclectin on child neurodevelopment.

STUDY DESIGN:

An observational cohort study of mother-child pairs ascertained via a pregnancy call-in center was conducted. Three groups of children were studied: 45 with NVP and diclectin, 47 with NVP no diclectin, and 29 with no NVP. Phone calls to mothers during pregnancy and 6 to 9 months after childbirth yielded information on pregnancy, birth, and early child development. Children aged 3 to 7 years received a comprehensive set of psychological tests. Mothers were assessed for IQ and socioeconomic status.

RESULTS:

All children scored in the normal range for IQ, with the NVP-exposed group scoring higher than the non-exposed group on Performance IQ (P < .02), NEPSY Verbal Fluency (P < .003) and Phonological Processing (P < .004), and McCarthy Numerical Memory (P < .004). Predictors of enhanced results were NVP severity and maternal IQ.

CONCLUSIONS:

NVP has an enhancing effect on later child outcome. Diclectin does not appear to adversely affect fetal brain development and can be used to control NVP when clinically indicated.

• Authors: Irena Nulman, Joanne Rovet, Maru Barrera, Dafna Knittel-Keren, Brian M Feldman, Gideon Koren
• Journal: The Journal of pediatrics (J Pediatr) Vol. 155 Issue 1 Pg. 45-50, 50.e1-2 (Jul 2009) ISSN: 1097-6833 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19394042 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiemetics
• Drug Combinations
• dicyclomine, doxylamine, pyridoxine drug combination
• Dicyclomine
• Doxylamine
• Pyridoxine

Topics

• Adult
• Antiemetics (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child Development
• Child, Preschool
• Cohort Studies
• Dicyclomine
• Doxylamine (therapeutic use)
• Drug Combinations
• Female
• Humans
• Intelligence
• Intelligence Tests
• Linear Models
• Maternal-Fetal Exchange
• Nausea (drug therapy)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications (drug therapy)
• Pyridoxine (therapeutic use)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Sleep
• Vomiting (drug therapy)