Psychomotor development and general movements in offspring of women with epilepsy and anticonvulsant therapy.
While the role of antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy in teratogenesis has widely been investigated, there are few prospective studies on later postnatal development in offspring of epileptic women in utero exposed. The aim of this study was a prospective investigation of the psychomotor development in a selected population of infant born to women with epilepsy on AED therapy during pregnancy.


METHODS
Children were assessed at various times until 30 months of age by general movement (GMs) observation (at 7 days and 4 and 13 weeks), traditional neurologic examination (at 7 days and 4 and 13 weeks, 6, 9 and 12 months) and Brunet-Lezine (B-L) administration (at 30 months). We present the preliminary results of our study conducted on 11 children.


RESULTS
Psychomotor delay in children was confirmed by traditional neurological examinations scores at 7 days, 4 weeks, 13 weeks and 6 months and by B-L score at 30 months. Between 9 and 12 months of age, traditional neurologic examination became "silent". GM assessment was found to be a better predictor of psychomotor development. In fact, GM analysis, particularly at 4 weeks, was strongly correlated with the Brunet-Lezine score at 30 months. In conclusion, on the basis of these data we suggest a psychomotor delay in the offspring of epileptic women and that GMs and neurologic evaluation provide complementary information concerning psychomotor development and later outcome of these children.
Outpatient Service of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, La Sapienza 2 University, Via di Grottarossa, 1035-1039, 00189 Rome, Italy. parpas@iol.it
Pasquale
P
Parisi
Ada
A
Francia
Nicola
N
Vanacore
Stefania
S
Fiore
Anna Teresa
AT
Giallonardo
Mario
M
Manfredi
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000927:Anticonvulsants