The safety of cetirizine during pregnancy: A prospective observational cohort study

ObjectiveTo assess the safety of cetirizine during pregnancy.Study designA prospective observational cohort study with data of the Berlin teratology information center from 1992 until 2006. Pregnancy outcome was compared between a cohort of pregnant women exposed to cetirizine during the first trimester (n = 196) and a control group not exposed to potential teratogens (n = 1686).ResultsMajor birth defects were not more common in the study group than in the control group (OR 1.07; CI 0.21–3.59). We also compared the crude rate of spontaneous abortions (OR 0.97; CI 0.54–1.65), of preterm deliveries (OR 0.76; CI 0.35–1.5), and the birth weight of term newborns (p = 0.13).ConclusionsThis prospective observational study on cetirizine in pregnancy suggests that the use of cetirizine is relatively safe during the first trimester.