Antenatal maternal antidepressants drugs affect Activin A concentrations in maternal blood, in amniotic fluid and in fetal cord blood

Abstract

Objective: The use of antidepressant drugs during pregnancy is rapidly increasing both in Europe and in the USA, with controversial data regarding side-effects on fetus and newborn. We investigated, in pregnant women and in fetal biological fluids whether the concentrations of a brain protein, Activin A, changed in association with the use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI). Methods: We conducted a case control study in 24 women treated with SSRIs, matched with 24 healthy pregnancies as controls. Maternal blood (during labor, T1), fetal blood (venous (T2) and arterial [T3] umbilical cord blood) and amniotic fluid (T4) were drawn for standard laboratory assessment and for Activin A measurement. Results: Activin A concentrations in maternal and fetal biological fluids were significantly higher in SSRI users than in the control groups(P < 0.05, for all). Conclusions: Activin A in maternal and fetal biological fluids is increased after SSRI administration in the third trimester of pregnancy. The present findings open up a new cue for further studies aimed at investigating protein’s key role in central nervous system protection/damage in pregnant women using these drugs.

Keywords::

• Activin A
• fetal brain
• maternal depression
• SSRI
• teratology

Acknowledgements

This work takes part to the I.O. PhD International Program and was partially supported by grants to DG from Stella Cometa, Let’s Improve Perinatal Life Foundations, Italy. The funding sources had no role in the study design, data collection, data interpretation, data analysis, or writing of this manuscript.

Declaration of interest: Authors declare no conflict of interest.