Levetiracetam use and pregnancy outcome.
Prenatal exposure to levetiracetam (LEV) has been shown to cause skeletal abnormalities and growth retardation in animal studies, but the teratogenicity of this new antiepileptic drug in humans is still unknown. We detected no malformations in a series of 11 pregnancies with LEV exposure, although it was striking that three cases had a low birth weight. There may be an association between maternal LEV use and reduced birth weight, but too few cases have been monitored so far. We recommend that the outcomes of all pregnancies exposed to LEV should be carefully registered.
ten Berg
Klara
K
Department of Medical Genetics, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands. k.tenberg@azu.nl
Samrén
E Bettina
EB
van Oppen
A Carla
AC
Engelsman
Martijn
M
Lindhout
Dick
D
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam