You need to be logged in to see the full monograph.
Date of issue: April 2020, Version: 3
Acetone is a ketone widely used as an industrial solvent and commonly found in paints and nail varnish remover.
There are no published data investigating pregnancy outcomes following exposure to acetone in a domestic setting (i.e. in nail polish removers). The published data are limited to three case reports describing maternal abuse or accidental poisoning.
As with all chemicals, unnecessary exposure to acetone in pregnancy should be avoided. However, where occupational exposure is unavoidable, precautions should be taken to ensure that exposure is well within the recommended exposure limits and not associated with toxic symptoms.
Following acetone poisoning in a pregnant patient, maternal toxicity is likely to be a major determinant of risk to the fetus. However, due to a lack of data relating to the teratogenicity of acetone, it is not currently possible to state that an absence of maternal toxicity excludes the possibility of adverse fetal effects. Clinicians are reminded of the importance of consideration of such factors when performing case-specific risk assessments. Enhanced antenatal surveillance may be warranted after acetone poisoning in pregnancy and should be decided on a case-by-case basis.
This is a summary of the full UKTIS monograph for health care professionals and should not be used in isolation. The full UKTIS monograph and access to any hyperlinked related documents is available to NHS health care professionals who are logged in.
If you have a patient with exposure to a drug or chemical and require assistance in making a patient-specific risk assessment, please telephone UKTIS on 0344 892 0909 to discuss the case with a teratology specialist.
If you would like to report a pregnancy to UKTIS please click here to download our pregnancy reporting form. Please encourage all women to complete an online reporting form.
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that this monograph was accurate and up-to-date at the time of writing, however it cannot cover every eventuality and the information providers cannot be held responsible for any adverse outcomes of the measures recommended. The final decision regarding which treatment is used for an individual patient remains the clinical responsibility of the prescriber. This material may be freely reproduced for education and not for profit purposes within the UK National Health Service, however no linking to this website or reproduction by or for commercial organisations is permitted without the express written permission of this service. This document is regularly reviewed and updated. Only use UKTIS monographs downloaded directly from UKTIS.org to ensure you are using the most up-to-date version.
I am an expert in the field of teratology and reproductive toxicology, with a focus on the impact of chemical exposures on pregnancy outcomes. My knowledge extends to the latest research and guidelines in this domain, and I have a thorough understanding of the complexities involved in assessing risks associated with chemical exposures during pregnancy.
In the provided excerpt from the UKTIS (UK Teratology Information Service) monograph dated April 2020, Version 3, the focus is on acetone, a ketone widely used as an industrial solvent and commonly found in paints and nail varnish remover. The monograph highlights the lack of published data specifically investigating pregnancy outcomes following exposure to acetone in a domestic setting, such as in nail polish removers. The available data are limited to three case reports describing maternal abuse or accidental poisoning.
The central message is a cautionary one, emphasizing the importance of avoiding unnecessary exposure to acetone during pregnancy. The document acknowledges that in cases where occupational exposure is unavoidable, precautions should be taken to ensure that exposure remains within recommended limits and does not lead to toxic symptoms.
One notable point is the acknowledgment that following acetone poisoning in a pregnant patient, maternal toxicity is likely a major determinant of the risk to the fetus. However, due to a lack of data on the teratogenicity of acetone, the monograph cautions against conclusively stating that the absence of maternal toxicity guarantees the absence of adverse fetal effects.
The document underscores the need for clinicians to consider these factors in case-specific risk assessments and suggests that enhanced antenatal surveillance may be warranted after acetone poisoning during pregnancy, to be decided on a case-by-case basis.
It's important to note that the summary provided is just a glimpse, and the full UKTIS monograph is recommended for comprehensive information. The monograph serves as a resource for healthcare professionals, emphasizing that it should not be used in isolation and that the final decision on treatment for an individual patient remains the clinical responsibility of the prescriber.
The disclaimer emphasizes that the monograph may not cover every eventuality, and the information providers cannot be held responsible for adverse outcomes. The document is regularly reviewed and updated, with the recommendation to use only the most up-to-date versions downloaded directly from the UKTIS website.
