Table 3.
Most frequently used drugs with level of evidence of potentially harmful effects on foetal development during pregnancy.
| Drug | Total patient cohort (n = 212) |
Patients using contraceptivesa (n = 101) | Patients using no contraceptivesa
(n = 111) |
p Fi | No. of databases indicating potential foetal risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMDs | |||||
| IFN beta-1a | 27 (12.7%) | 15 (14.9%) | 12 (10.8%) | 0.415 | 2 |
| GA | 26 (12.3%) | 7 (6.9%) | 19 (17.1%) | 0.035 | 1 |
| Fingolimod | 21 (9.9%) | 10 (9.9%) | 11 (9.9%) | 1.000 | 2 |
| Alemtuzumab | 17 (8.0%) | 9 (8.9%) | 8 (7.2%) | 0.801 | 1 |
| Methylprednisoloneb | 16 (7.5%) | 16 (15.8%) | 0 (0.0%) | <0.001 ** | 2 |
| Natalizumab | 16 (7.5%) | 12 (11.9%) | 4 (3.6%) | 0.035 | 2 |
| Dimethyl fumarate | 15 (7.1%) | 5 (5.0%) | 10 (9.0%) | 0.293 | 1 |
| Teriflunomide | 14 (6.6%) | 5 (5.0%) | 9 (8.1%) | 0.416 | 3 |
| Ocrelizumab | 8 (3.8%) | 7 (6.9%) | 1 (0.9%) | 0.029 | 3 |
| Immunoglobulin G | 7 (3.3%) | 3 (3.0%) | 4 (3.6%) | 1.000 | 0 |
| Cladribine | 4 (1.9%) | 2 (2.0%) | 2 (1.8%) | 1.000 | 3 |
| Mitoxantrone | 3 (1.4%) | 1 (1.0%) | 2 (1.8%) | 1.000 | 1 |
| Azathioprine | 1 (0.5%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (0.9%) | 1.000 | 3 |
| IFN beta-1b | 1 (0.5%) | 1 (1.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0.476 | 2 |
| Non-DMDs | |||||
| Cholecalciferol | 93 (43.9%) | 41 (40.6%) | 52 (46.8%) | 0.407 | 0 |
| Ibuprofen | 40 (18.9%) | 19 (18.8%) | 21 (18.9%) | 1.000 | 2 |
| Levothyroxine | 30 (14.2%) | 30 (29.7%) | 0 (0.0%) | <0.001** | 1 |
| Magnesium | 27 (12.7%) | 14 (13.9%) | 13 (11.7%) | 0.684 | 0 |
| Pantoprazole | 24 (11.3%) | 20 (19.8%) | 4 (3.6%) | <0.001** | 2 |
| Cyanocobalamin | 21 (9.9%) | 9 (8.9%) | 12 (10.8%) | 0.819 | 1 |
| Enoxaparin | 17 (8.0%) | 16 (15.8%) | 1 (0.9%) | <0.001** | 2 |
| Ethinylestradiol with levonorgestrel | 14 (6.6%) | 14 (13.9%) | 0 (0.0%) | <0.001** | 2 |
| Zopiclone | 13 (6.1%) | 10 (9.9%) | 3 (2.7%) | 0.042 | 2 |
| Baclofen | 11 (5.2%) | 8 (7.9%) | 3 (2.7%) | 0.122 | 3 |
| Escitalopram | 11 (5.2%) | 6 (5.9%) | 5 (4.5%) | 0.760 | 2 |
DMDs, disease-modifying drugs for MS; FDR, false discovery rate; MS, multiple sclerosis; n, number of patients; non-DMDs, drugs other than DMDs taken by more than 5% of the patients with MS; p, p value.
Shown is the number (percentage) of patients using the drug and the number of databases containing the information that the drug may interfere with normal foetal development, with a larger number of databases indicated by a darker red colour; Significance values <0.05 are indicated in bold.
FDR < 0.001.
The grouping of patients was based on the use of either birth control pills or vaginal rings as hormonal contraceptives.
Quarterly pulse therapy or acute relapse therapy.
Fisher’s exact test.