title: Epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs, and malformations in children of women with epilepsy: a French prospective cohort study.
abstract: We conducted a prospective study of teratogenic effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in pregnant women with epilepsy in southeast France, comparing malformation rates with those collected by a birth defects registry. We evaluated isolated microcephalies separately. Malformations were seen in 7% of infants of mothers with epilepsy (IME) and in 1.36% of the general population. No significant relationship was found between type and severity of epilepsy and occurrence of malformations or isolated microcephaly. Valproate and phenytoin were the most teratogenic (all malformations). None of the malformations observed in IME whose mothers received valproate, phenytoin, or phenobarbital was seen in IME not exposed to the respective AEDs. Phenytoin plus phenobarbital was more teratogenic than phenobarbital alone. Benzodiazepines, prescribed only in combinations, had a borderline, nonspecific effect on microcephaly.
authors.affiliation: Centre Saint Paul, Marseilles, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dravet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Julian
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Legras
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magaudda
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guerrini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Genton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soulayrol
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giraud
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mesdjian
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trentin
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010672:Phenytoin; D010634:Phenobarbital