title: Obstetrical complications in women with epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Better knowledge of risk factors for women with epilepsy giving birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Investigating all studies reporting complications in pregnancy and deliveries in women with epilepsy during the last 15 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Studies have observed that women with epilepsy have a higher risk of preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, bleeding in pregnancy, caesarean delivery (CD), excessive bleeding postpartum, preterm birth, and small for gestational age. It has been unclear whether the increased risk of complications is due to the epilepsy per se, the use of antiepileptic drugs (AED), or the combination of both factors. Recent studies strongly indicate an association between AED use, and complications in pregnancy and labour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Newer drugs commonly used in treatment of epilepsy are associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications, as well as complication during labour and delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: ingrid.borthen@helse-bergen.no.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Borthen
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: Antiepileptic drugs; Delivery; Epilepsy; Pregnancy