Protecting pregnancies from the harmful effects of ACE inhibitors

In this episode Dr Elizabeth Lovegrove talks about research into ACE inhibitors and ARBs and the risk they pose in pregnancy. Pregnancy protection and pregnancies in women prescribed ACE inhibitors or ARBs: a cross-sectional study in primary care Read the paper: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp20X712997 (https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp20X712997) Exposure to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers during pregnancy is associated with teratogenic risk to the fetus. This study shows that the recording of pre-pregnancy advice and contraception in women of childbearing age, who are prescribed such medicines, is suboptimal and a number of pregnancies occur in this population. As this may place women and their babies at risk of exposure to teratogens, there is a need for significant improvements in the care of these patients.