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Steve N. Caritis, MD

Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh

How can obstetrical providers possibly answer the pregnant woman who asks,, ‘is this medication safe for me and my baby?’ when there is little information addressing that question?
Steve N. Caritis, MD

Research in Brief

Dr. Caritis is dedicated to answering a critical question: “Is this medication safe for me and my baby?” His work determines the right dosing during pregnancy—from statins and antidepressants to antibiotics—to protect both mother and child and reduce complications like preeclampsia and preterm birth. Recent focus is on effects of opioids on the fetus.

  • Pharmacology of Buprenorphine in Opioid‑Dependent Pregnant Women
  • Effects of opioids on the fetus/newborn 
  • Caritis SN, Krans EE, Venkataramanan R. Buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine concentrations associated with clinical withdrawal during pregnancy. Drug & Alcohol Dependence. 274:112771, 2025 Sep 01.
  • Caritis SN, Dodeja P, Sharma S, … The dosing regimen for 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate was suboptimal: lessons for future pharmacotherapy for pregnant women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Jan;232(1):132.e1‑11.
  • Caritis SN, Venkataramanan R, Thom E, et al. Relationship between 17‑hydroxyprogesterone caproate concentrations and spontaneous preterm birth. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2014;210(2):128.e1‑6.  
  • Caritis SN, Hankins G, Hebert M, Haas DM, Ahmed M, Simhan H, Haneline LA, Harris J, Chang J, Famy AS, Yorio P, Ren Z, D'Alton ME, Venkataramanan R. Impact of Pregnancy History and 17-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate on Cervical Cytokines and Matrix Metalloproteinases. American Journal of Perinatology. 35(5):470-480, 2018 Apr.
  • Costantine MM, Clifton RG, Boekhoudt TM, Lawrence K, Gyamfi-Bannerman C, Wisner KL, Grobman W, Caritis SN, Simhan HN, Hebert MF, Longo M, Saade GR. Long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up of children exposed to pravastatin in utero. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 229(2):153.e1-153.e12, 2023 08.
  • Megli CJ, Hauspurg A, Venkataramanan R, Caritis SN. A Possible Mechanism of Action of 17alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate: Enhanced IL-10 Production. American Journal of Perinatology. 40(14):1585-1589, 2023 10.
  • Palatnik A, Mele L, Casey BM, Varner MW, Sorokin Y, Reddy UM, Wapner RJ, Thorp JM Jr, Saade GR, Tita ATN, Rouse DJ, Sibai B, Costantine MM, Mercer BM, Tolosa JE, Caritis SN. Association between Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Long-Term Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in the Offspring. American Journal of Perinatology. 39(9):921-929, 2022 07.
  • Caritis SN, Venkataramanan R. Obstetrical, fetal, and lactation pharmacology-a crisis that can no longer be ignored. [Review]. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 225(1):10-20, 2021 07.
  • Caritis SN, Venkataramanan R. Naltrexone use in pregnancy: a time for change. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 222(1):1-2, 2020 01.
  • Lemon LS, Bodnar LM, Garrard W, Venkataramanan R, Platt RW, Marroquin OC, Caritis SN, Ondansetron use in the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of neonatal ventricular septal defect. International Journal of Epidemiology. 49(2):648-656, 2020 04 01.
  • Caritis SN, Panigrahy A. Opioids affect the fetal brain: reframing the detoxification debate. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 221(6):602-608, 2019 12. 

For additional publications, visit Pubmed.

Donna DeAngelis, RT
Lara Siminerio, PharmD
Raman Venkataramanan, PhD

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