| Prescribed teratogenic medications, for example, the use of fluoroquinolones for treatment of urinary tract infection, may cause birth defects. Coumadin, several anti-epileptic medications, heparin, phenobarbital, tetracycline, and many others are teratogenic.
The pregnant woman has a greater risk of DVT, or deep vein thrombosis. This is both due to venous stasis " the venous return in the lower extremities is obstructed mechanically by the growing uterus" and by a relative increase in clotting factors. Just as a non-pregnant patient might present with pleuritic chest pain and hypoxemia, a red and swollen leg, shortness of breath, tachycardia, or even hemoptysis, so does the pregnant woman. However, the diagnosis may be more elusive as many pregnant women are affected by edema. Ultrasound and Doppler examination are safe and effective at finding the thrombosis. |