Aspirin birth defects include the following serious disorders: amniotic band syndrome, cleft lip, cleft palate, spina bifia, anophthalmia, microphthalmia, and clubfoot. New research has found that when mothers took NSAIDs, which are a group of medications that include aspirin, they were more likely to have a baby with a birth defect.
Do I Have an Aspirin Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one has had a child with a birth defect after taking Aspirin, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Texas Aspirin lawsuit.
Aspirin Overview
You probably have Aspirin in your medicine cabinet. It is one of the most popular medications in existence, because it has a wide range of uses. Many people use it to treat mild or moderate pain, fever, inflammation, and arthritis. Aspirin is also used by people who are at high risk of having a heart attack, because it prevents blood clots.
Aspirin belongs to a class of medications called “Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs,” or NSAIDs for short. These medications work by inhibiting an enzyme in the body that is involved in inflammation. You are probably familiar with a few NSAIDs, because they include popular medications such as: Aleve (naproxen), Advil (ibuprofen), Vioxx, Celebrex, Cataflam, Artrotex, and Nabumetone.
Aspirin and Pregnancy
At the end of 2011, researchers announced that they had found a link between NSAIDs and birth defects, when mothers took these medications early in pregnancy. The researchers looked for a link between medications and more than 29 different birth defects, and found that NSAIDs increase the risk of having a child with the following disorders:
- Amniotic band syndrome: When a baby is born with this syndrome, the problems can be mild or severely life-threatening. It occurs when bands in the amniotic sac separate, and the developing fetus becomes entangled. If the bands become wrapped tightly around a part of the body, it can lead to amputation or death. When mothers take an NSAID such as aspirin, amniotic band syndrome is three times more likely to occur.
- Clubfoot: When a baby is born with clubfoot, his or her foot is turned inward at a sharp angle. It can affect one foot or both feet, and if untreated, can severely impair the child’s ability to walk. Fortunately, the syndrome is readily treatable. Some children undergo surgery, though more and more are choosing to have the foot gradually stretched back into position.
- Anophthalmia and Microphthalmia: These birth defects affect the eyes and result in the baby to be born blind. They occur when the baby is born lacking eyes, or with eyes that are very small and blind. There is no treatment for anophthalmia or microphthalmia. This birth defect is three times more likely when mothers took NSAIDs during pregnancy.
- Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate: These birth defects may be 30-80% more likely when mothers took an NSAID such as aspirin, and are visually apparent as soon as a baby is born. A baby with cleft lip has a separation between the left and right side of the upper lip. Sometimes it is just a small notch; other times, it may be a wide separation that includes the nose. This birth defect may also affect the roof of the mouth. When a baby has cleft palate, he or she will have problems sucking, swallowing, and feeding, and may need a feeding tube to get the nutrition he or she needs to grow at a normal pace.
- Spina Bifida: This severe birth defect was 60% more likely in babies born to mothers who took NSAIDs or aspirin. Spina Bifida often results in some level of paralysis, which can range from moderate to severe. It occurs when the neural tube fails to close early in pregnancy, and the spinal cord is exposed to the environment inside the womb. This causes nerve damage, which is incurable.
Aspirin Birth Defect Study
In December 2011, researchers announced a study linking maternal use of aspirin and birth defects. The data relied on an analysis of information from the National Birth Defect Prevention Study. The researchers looked at data from 15,000 women who had children born with birth defects, and compared them to 5,000 women who had children without birth defects.
The results were published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The researchers looked for 29 birth defects, and the vast majority were not connected to NSAIDs. However, some were. The researchers recommended that women who were pregnant or trying to become pregnant should avoid aspirin and other NSAIDs.
What is Aspirin prescribed for?
Aspirin may be prescribed for the following conditions:
- Relief of pain, tenderness, swelling and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Juvenile arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis of the spine)
- Shoulder pain
- Tendinitis
- Menstrual pain
- Reduce fever
- Mild headaches
- Muscle aches
- Toothaches
- Backaches
Aspirin may also be prescribed to reduce the chance of heart attacks in people who are at high-risk of having a heart attack caused by blood clots, because aspirin is a blood-thinner.
If you used Aspirin to treat any of these conditions while you were pregnant, especially during the first trimester, you should be aware that Aspirin birth defects have been reported and you may have a lawsuit.
Do I have an Aspirin Lawsuit?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $60 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free Aspirin lawsuit review.
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