• Ann Z Bauer, David Kriebel, Martha R Herbert, Carl-Gustaf Bornehag, and Shanna H Swan.
• Department of Public Health, University of Massachusetts, 1 University Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01854, USA. Electronic address: Ann_Bauer@uml.edu.
• Horm Behav. 2018 May 1; 101: 125147125-147.

BackgroundThe non-prescription medication paracetamol (acetaminophen, APAP) is currently recommended as a safe pain and fever treatment during pregnancy. However, recent studies suggest a possible association between APAP use in pregnancy and offspring neurodevelopment.ObjectivesTo conduct a review of publications reporting associations between prenatal APAP use and offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes.MethodsRelevant sources were identified through a key word search of multiple databases (Medline, CINAHL, OVID and TOXNET) in September 2016. All English language observational studies of pregnancy APAP and three classes of neurodevelopmental outcomes (autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and intelligence quotient (IQ)) were included. One reviewer (AZB) independently screened all titles and abstracts, extracted and analyzed the data.Results64 studies were retrieved and 55 were ineligible. Nine prospective cohort studies fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Data pooling was not appropriate due to heterogeneity in outcomes. All included studies suggested an association between prenatal APAP exposure and the neurodevelopmental outcomes; ADHD, ASD, or lower IQ. Longer duration of APAP use was associated with increased risk. Associations were strongest for hyperactivity and attention-related outcomes. Little modification of associations by indication for use was reported.ConclusionsTogether, these nine studies suggest an increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes following prenatal APAP exposure. Further studies are urgently needed with; precise indication of use and exposure assessment of use both in utero and in early life. Given the current findings, pregnant women should be cautioned against indiscriminate use of APAP. These results have substantial public health implications.Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

This article appears in the collection: Is paracetamol/acetaminophen use in pregnancy associated with autism or attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder?.

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