Possible Relation Between Antenatal Venlafaxine Use and VACTERL Association in a Newborn: A Case Report

Abstract

Major depressive disorder is common during antenatal period and many women are prescribed antidepressant drugs despite no antidepressant can be regarded as definitely safe in pregnancy. Previous studies have suggested links between gestational use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) and certain birth defects.

VACTERL association is a rare group of congenital malformations which were observed to occur together more often than would be expected by chance. Diagnosis requires coexistence of at least three congenital malformations from vertebral (V), anal (A), cardiac (C), tracheoesophageal (TE), renal (R), and limb (L) regions.

Here, a case of a newborn female whose mother's gestational history revealed venlafaxine use before and during her pregnancy is reported. This newborn had anal atresia, patent ductus arteriosus, tracheoesophageal fistula, and upper limb anomalies.

To the best of authors' knowledge this is the first report of VACTERL association possibly related to gestational use of SSRI or SNRI.