Why the study?
Epidemiology studies have reported small increases in Ebstein's anomaly among pregnant women with bipolar disorder taking lithium, prompting evaluation of potential confounding teratogenic factors.
Does lithium salt exposure during pregnancy cause Ebstein's anomaly in fetuses of women with bipolar disorder?
Design
Literature and internet search-based narrative review
Authors
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Confounders likely explain lithium-fetal anomaly associations; challenges direct causality and leaves open need for adjusted prospective studies.
Does lithium salt exposure during pregnancy cause Ebstein's anomaly in fetuses of women with bipolar disorder?
The reported association between lithium use in pregnancy and Ebstein's anomaly is likely confounded by lifestyle and environmental factors common in severe bipolar disorder, challenging a direct causal link.
Smith et al. (2024) studied this question.
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