Skip to main content

An aborted human fetus with truncus arteriosus communis—Possible teratogenic effect of Tedral

Heart and Vessels volume 1, pages 176–178 (1985)Cite this article

Summary

We recently performed a detailed anatomicopathologic examination on an aborted human embryo whose mother had taken four tablets of Tedral (one tablet of Tedral contains 130 mg theophylline, 25 mg ephedrine, 8 mg phenobarbital) for an upper respiratory tract infection when the embryo was at approximately 30 days of development. On the same day, the mother developed acute chest pain and a fast, irregular heart beat. The abortion occurred at approximately 80 days of gestation. The heart of the fetus showed truncus arteriosus (Van Praagh type Al). Although no direct cause and effect relationship was proven in this case, the possibility of a teratogenic effect of Tedral during early pregnancy is considered.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. Chen KK, Schmidt CF (1925) The action of ephedrine, the active principle of the Chinese drug Ma Huang. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 24: 339–357

    Google Scholar 

  2. Tuft L, Brodsky ML (1936) The influence of various drugs upon allergic reactions. J Allergy 7: 238–249

    Google Scholar 

  3. Brown EA (1940) A new type of medication to be used in bronchial asthma and other allergic conditions. New Engl J Med 223: 843–846

    Google Scholar 

  4. Van Praagh R, Van Praagh S (1965) The anatomy of common aorticopulmonary trunk and its embryologic implications. Am J Cardiol 16: 406–425

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Rall TW (1980) Central nervous system stimulants: The xanthines. In: Gilman AG, Goodman LS, Gilman A (eds) The pharmacologic basis of therapeutics, ed 6. Macmillian, New York, pp 592–607

    Google Scholar 

  6. Gilbert EF, Bruyere HJ, Ishikawa S, Cheung MO, Hodach RJ (1977) The effect of methylxanthines on catecholamine-stimulated and normal chick embryos. Teratology 16: 47–52

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Ishikawa S, Gilbert EF, Bruyere HJ, Cheung MO (1978) Aortic aneurysms associated with cardial effects in theophylline stimulated chick embryo. Teratology 18: 23–30

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Matsuoka R, Gilbert EF, Yokoyama H, Bruyere HJ, Uno H (1984) The role of theophylline in cardiovascular teratogenesis in the chick embryo. In: Nora JJ, Takao A (eds) Congenital heart disease: Causes and processes. Futura, New York, pp 293–311

    Google Scholar 

  9. Fujii T, Nishimura H (1972) Adverse effect of prolonged administration of caffeine in rat fetus. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 22: 449–457

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Fujii T, Sasaki H, Nishimura H (1969) Teratogenecity of caffeine in mice related to its mode of administration Jpn J Pharmacol 19: 134–138

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Weathersbee PS, Olsen LK, Lodge JR (1977) Topics in primary care, caffeine and pregnancy. Postgrad Med 62: 64–69

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Food and Drug Administration (1980) Report on caffeine.

  13. Hamilton WJ, Mossman HW (1972) Human embryology, ed. 4. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, p 251

    Google Scholar 

  14. Frazier TM, Davis GH, Goldstein H, Goldberg ID (1961) Cigarette smoking and prematurity: A prospective study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 81: 988–996

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Comstock GW, Shall FK, Meyer MB, Abbey H (1971) Low birth weight and neonatal mortality rate related to maternal smoking and socioeconomic status. Am J Obstet Gynecol III: 53–59

    Google Scholar 

  16. Meyer MB, Comstock GW. Maternal cigarette smoking and prenatal mortality. Am J Epidemiol 96: 1–10

  17. Gilbert EF, Matsuoka R, Bruyere H, Opitz JM (1981) Terategenic effect of Tedral (theophylline, ephedrine and phenobarbital) on cardiac development in chick embryos. Circulation 64 (Suppl IV): p 223 (Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA

    Rumiko Matsuoka, Enid F. Gilbert & Harold Bruyers Jr.

  2. Montana Children's Hospital, Helena, USA

    John M. Optiz

Authors
  1. Rumiko Matsuoka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Enid F. Gilbert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Harold Bruyers Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. John M. Optiz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This study was supported by the American Heart Association-Wisconsin Affiliate, and NIH grant HLI 18050 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Matsuoka, R., Gilbert, E.F., Bruyers, H. et al. An aborted human fetus with truncus arteriosus communis—Possible teratogenic effect of Tedral. Heart Vessels 1, 176–178 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02066414

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02066414

Key words

  • Tedral-Teratogens-Drug combination-Fetus
  • Drug effects-Truncus arteriosus
  • persistent
  • drug effects-Theophylline