Title:Perinatal and Neonatal Outcomes of Lithium-Treated and Untreated Bipolar Women During Pregnancy: A Review of Present Literature
VOLUME: 2 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Carla Gramaglia, Francesca Ressico, Isabella Coppola, Maria Cristina Rizza, Valentina Dalo, Eugenio Torre and Patrizia Zeppegno
Affiliation:Department of Translational Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Eastwen Piedmont “Amedeo Avogadro”, Via Gnifetti n° 8, 28100 Novara, Italy.
Keywords:Lactation, lithium, perinatal disease, pregnancy, teratogenesis.
Abstract:Many women with a bipolar disorder are in their reproductive age and will need to continue their
psychopharmacological treatment during pregnancy, being abrupt discontinuation of these medications associated with an
increase of the probability of relapse, high-risk behaviours, significant family dysfunction, and suicide. Lithium is a first
line drug for acute and maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. Its teratogenic and perinatal effects are controversial, so
as its longterm effects on neurodevelopment of the children. Our purpose is to review the most up-to-date literature
dealing with growth, neurological, cognitive and behavioural development of children exposed to Lithium in utero. A
PubMed search was performed with the following keywords: bipolar disorder, Lithium, pregnancy, lactation, perinatal
disease, child development. Studies were included in the review if they investigated one or more of the adverse events of
interest. Of the 26 studies included in our review, some show an association between Lithium treatment and several
grades of malformations (most commonly minor), both cardiac and involving other organs, and dysfunctions which are
often reversible. Some studies reported no collateral effects due to in utero exposure to Lithium. Even though literature
points out a slightly increased risk of major malformations due to Lithium therapy during pregnancy, the drug should not
be discontinued, yet monitoring of serum Lithium levels and foetal echocardiography are recommended.
