Epilepsy therapy: issues for women and men.
It has been suggested that polycystic ovary syndrome is a common finding in women treated with valproate. However, in a recent study this suggestion could not be confirmed. There is currently no clear evidence that valproate contributes to the development of the polycystic ovary syndrome. Focal epileptic discharges may have an impact on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian or -testicular axis. In the case of successful epilepsy surgery the impact of epilepsy on endocrine functioning may cease. This may lead to a normalization of disturbed menstrual cycles in women, and leads to a post-surgical increase of serum androgens in men. Both findings are supplemented by the results of animal experiments. Children exposed to antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy show a normal psychomotor and cognitive development. However, newly developed as well as traditional antiepileptic drugs increase the risk that a child exposed to these drugs during pregnancy will develop a malformation.
Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Strasse 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany. juergen.bauer@meb.uni-bonn.de
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D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009839:Oligomenorrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid