title: Antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy: pharmacokinetics and transplacental transfer.
abstract: Epilepsy represents the most common maternal neurological disorder requiring continuous treatment during pregnancy. Maintaining optimum seizure control is an important objective in pregnancy, and the majority of women with epilepsy will need to continue antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). AEDs are frequently used to treat several other conditions, such as headaches and mood disorders. They have been associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations, minor anomalies, congenital syndrome and development disorders. This risk seems to be higher among women using polypharmacy and valproic acid. Neural tube defects are associated with valproic acid and carbamazepine exposure. New AEDs seem to have a less teratogenic effect, but human experience is still limited. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on AED exposure in pregnancy, focusing on pharmacokinetics and transplacental transport.
authors.affiliation: Telefono Rosso-Teratology Information Service, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. marcodesantis@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Santis
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: Ilenia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mappa
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cesari
authors.forename: Tomasella
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Quattrocchi
authors.forename: Terryann
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spagnuolo
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Visconti
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caruso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants