Pregnancy, teratogenesis, and epilepsy.
Women with epilepsy who are of childbearing age need to understand what the risks of pregnancy are. These women have a 33% risk of increased seizures, a twofold increase in risk of hemorrhage, eclampsia, premature labor, and an increased need for cesarean sections. Babies born to women with epilepsy face a higher risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, developmental delay, and major malformations. Seizure control should be obtained without clinical toxicity. Monotherapy reduces the risk of adverse outcomes.
Yerby
M S
MS
Oregon Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Portland.
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000009:adverse effects; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010672:Phenytoin; D010634:Phenobarbital