title: [Antiepileptic drugs and congenital malformations].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In pregnant women with epilepsy the use of antiepileptic drugs may increase the risk of harming the foetus. For the treating neurologist it may be challenging to find a balance between optimal seizure control and the lowest possible drug dosage. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and type of congenital malformations in children exposed to antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In Norway we have prospectively followed 813 pregnancies in women with epilepsy as part of an international cohort study. The women had three check-ups during the pregnancy, and the children were followed up twice during their first year of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a total of 34 congenital malformations in the children, of which 12 were heart defects, yielding a malformation rate of 4.5%. Six of the malformations (18%) were detected prenatally, 20 (59%) were reported immediately after birth, and eight (24%) were discovered during the child's first year of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that 95.5%.of the women included who used antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy gave birth to a healthy child. This Norwegian cohort is too small to evaluate the teratogenic risk associated with the individual drugs.
authors.affiliation: Spesialsykehuset for epilepsi Oslo universitetssykehus.
authors.forename: Karl O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Nakken
authors.affiliation: Spesialsykehuset for epilepsi Oslo universitetssykehus.
authors.forename: Kari Mette
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lillestølen
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for nevrologi og klinisk nevrofysiologi St. Olavs hospital.
authors.forename: Eylert
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brodtkorb
authors.affiliation: Spesialsykehuset for epilepsi Oslo universitetssykehus og Nevrologisk avdeling Sykehuset Innlandet, Lillehammer.
authors.forename: Torleiv
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Svendsen
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for voksenhabilitering Oslo universitetssykehus, Ullevål.
authors.forename: Kathrine Johannessen
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Haggag
authors.affiliation: Nevrologisk avdeling Oslo universitetssykehus, Rikshospitalet.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taubøll
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants