Maternal hormonal contraception increases leukaemia risk in children
Chennai: Maternal hormonal contraception has been suspected of being linked to an increased risk of childhood cancer, as per a recent study by Lancet oncology. Children born to women with recent use of any type of hormonal contraception were at higher risk for any leukaemia than children of women who never used contraception, said the study.
Maternal hormonal contraception has been suspected of being linked to an increased risk of childhood cancer.
The study, aimed at assessing the association between maternal use of hormonal contraception and diagnosis of leukaemia in their children, analyzed the diagnosis of any leukaemia in the children.
The researchers followed a group of around ten-lakh live born children between 1996 and 2014 listed in the Danish Medical Birth Registry and identified those diagnosed with leukaemia in the Danish Cancer Registry.
The record was maintained after categorizing the use of maternal hormonal contraceptive as no use, previous use, which is 3 months before start of pregnancy and recent use, which is less than 3 months before and during the preganancy.
The redeemed prescriptions from the National Prescription Registry provided information about maternal hormonal contraceptive use.
It was found that 606 children of the ten lakh on follow-up, were diagnosed with leukaemia (465 with lymphoid leukaemia and 141 with non-lymphoid leukaemia).
Children born to women with recent use of any type of hormonal contraception were at higher risk for any leukaemia than children of women who never used contraception, the risk was even higher for exposure during pregnancy.
However, there was no association found between timing of use and risk for lymphoid leukaemia, but the effect of use of maternal hormonal contraceptive was higher for non-lymphoid leukaemia due to recent use and use during pregnancy.
Hormonal contraception use close to or during pregnancy resulted in an additional case of leukaemia per about 50,000 exposed children.
The findings of the report suggest that the maternal hormonal use affects non-lymphoid leukaemia development in children and there was need for future research into its causes and prevention.
