Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation
  • Published:

Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation

Encephalocele following a periconceptional exposure to efavirenz: a case report

Abstract

The use of Efaverinz in reproductive age women needs caution as its use in the first trimster of pregnancy is reportedly associated with an increased risk of neural tube defect (NTD) in the newborn. This concern is based on evidence from animal studies and two human case reports. We report here yet another case of encephalocele born from a mother who was taking efaverenze during conception and the first 8 weeks of gestation, the critical time in the pathogenesis of NTDs.

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

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chersich MF, Urban MF, Venter FWD, Wessels T, Krause A, Gray GE et al. Efavirenz use during pregnancy and for women of child-bearing potential. AIDS Res Ther 2006; 3: 11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Nightingale SL . From the Food and Drug Administration. JAMA 1998; 280 (17): 1472.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Fundaro C, Genovese O, Rendeli C, Tamburrini E, Salvaggio E . Myelomeningocele in a child with intrauterine exposure to efavirenz. AIDS 2002; 16: 299–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Saitoh A, Hull AD, Franklin P, Spector SA . Myelomeningocele in an infant with intrauterine exposure to efavirenz. J Perinatol 2005; 25: 555–556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Lewis-Hall FC . Important change in SUSTIVA (efavirenz) package insert—change from category C to D. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 2005, http://www.fda.gov, Accessed 20 February 2013.

  6. Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry Steering Committee. Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry International Interim Report for 1 January 1989 through 31 July 2012. Registry Coordinating Center: Wilmington, NC, 2012 Available from URL www.APRegistry.com.

  7. Beraa E, McCauslanda K, Nonkweloa R, Mgudlwaa B, Chackoa S, Majekea B . Birth defects following exposure to efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy: a study at a regional South African hospital. AIDS 2010; 24: 283–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Forda N, Mofensonc L, Kranzerd K, Medue L, Frigatif L, Millsg EJ et al. Safety of efavirenz in first-trimester of pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes from observational cohorts. AIDS 2010; 24: 1461–1470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Ford N, Calmyc A, Mofenson L . Safety of efavirenz in the first trimester of pregnancy: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. AIDS 2011; 25: 2301–2304.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. World Health Organization. Technical update on treatment optimization; Use of efavirenz during pregnancy: a public health perspective. WHO Document Production Services: Geneva, Switzerland, 2012.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D Bekele.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gudu, W., Bekele, D. Encephalocele following a periconceptional exposure to efavirenz: a case report. J Perinatol 33, 987–988 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2013.121

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2013.121

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links