Reactions 1284 - 16 Jan 2010

Citalopram

Clitoral priapism in a newborn following in uteroexposure?: case report

A newborn girl developed clitoral priapism following inutero exposure to citalopram [exact dosage and duration ofexposure not stated].

The girl was referred for an endocrinological consultationfollowing the discovery of clitoromegaly during anexamination 2 hours after birth. She was very restless, withweak sucking postpartum. Examination 24 hourspostpartum showed no pathology other thanclitoromegaly. The clitoris was hard, erectile and 16.4mmin length; it was observed that she cried more intenselyduring clitoral examination. It was discovered that her29-year-old mother had taken an antidepressant containingcitalopram after being diagnosed with major depressionbefore pregnancy. She had taken the drug irregularly duringher pregnancy, and had been taking 20–30 mg/day ofcitalopram for the last 2 months due to increaseddepressive symptoms. Repeat examination of the neonate48 hours postpartum showed her sucking was active, andthat her clitoris had became smaller and softer with a lengthof 6.4mm. All endocrine and biochemistry tests werenormal. Her clitoromegaly disappeared within 2 days,during which all laboratory findings remained normal. Itwas concluded that her clitoral priapism may have resultedfrom her mother’s usage of citalopram.

Author comment: Citalopram inhibits the reuptake ofserotonin and elicits serotonergic activity; accordingly, it isconsidered to cause priapism in this way.Oguz Kutlu A, et al. Priapism observed in a baby whose mother used citalopramduring pregnancy: idiopathic or the effect of maternal medication? AnadoluPsikiyatri Dergisi 10: 249-251, No. 3, 2009 [Turkish; summarised from atranslation] - Turkey 801158186

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Reactions 16 Jan 2010 No. 12840114-9954/10/1284-0001/$14.95 © 2010 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved