A woman taking cyclophosphamide for the past 3 months for cancer treatment disco

Question

A woman taking cyclophosphamide for the past 3 months for cancer treatment discovered that she was pregnant while visiting her doctor. The doctor indicates that at the time of her visit she is 2 months pregnant. She stopped the cyclophosphamide treatment as soon as she heard the news. At this point, what are the possible outcomes of the pregnancy? What type of toxicant is cyclophosphamide? What are the mechanisms by which cyclophosphamide might cause birth defects, and what are the probable results?

Explanation / Answer

Cyclophosphamide has been characterized under category D toxicant by Food and Drug Administration. It has been known to impart pregnancy risks due of its teratogenic nature. It causes fetotoxicity along with embryotoxicity. Due to its usage, severe abnormalities have been observed in the new borns ranging from retarded growth to various eye defects.

Since it is used for the treatment of cancer, its mode of action is contraindicated during pregnancy. It has displayed a series of anomalies causing embryopathy leading to organ diminution, although some results have shown women treated with this drug delivering healthy children also.

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