Diamox and Pregnancy Study Receives Approval
Diamox and Pregnancy Study Receives OHSU Approval and Will Begin in March 2008
March 5, 2008— A research study, examining the use of Diamox by chronic IH patients during pregnancy, has received approval to begin from Oregon Health & Science University’s (OHSU) Institutional Review Board. The study is collaboration between the IH Registry and OHSU. Julie Falardeau, M.D., a neuro-ophthalmologist and an assistant professor at Casey Eye Institute at OHSU, will be the chief investigator.
Pregnancy presents a certain dilemma for many women with chronic IH. Since Diamox is officially designated a Class-C drug which means that its safety for use during pregnancy has not been established. Physicians are often reluctant to use Diamox before the 20th week because of this designation and a general lack of data on the subject.
This study will investigate the experiences and outcomes of chronic IH patients who have been pregnant. It will compare two groups: those who took Diamox during pregnancy and those who did not take the drug. To qualify for the study, participants simply must have become pregnant after being diagnosed with intracranial hypertension. The pregnancy need not to have ended in a live birth.
Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire about their pregnancy/cies and consequent outcome/s. The study still seeks patients who did or did not take Diamox during pregnancy since both groups are important for the study’s success. If you are interested in learning more, please contact the Registry office at 503.418.214.