ABSTRACT

Maintaining a balance between controlling epileptic seizures and potential teratogenic effects of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) is fundamental in epileptic pregnancies. We aimed to present demographic and clinical data of pregnant women with epilepsy, and determine the potential complications that could occur with the use of AEDs.

A total of 101 pregnancies of 55 epileptic women were retrospectively evaluated. Demographic characteristics, duration of epilepsy, seizure frequency, type and doses of AEDs, delivery mode, birth weight of infants, malformations, abortions, early deliveries, and still-births were registered.

Out of 190 patients 55 (28.9%) had experienced pregnancy, and a total number of pregnancies was 101. Mean age of patients was 30.7±9.7 years and mean duration of epilepsy was 14.5±10.8 years. 50 (61.7%) had experienced at least one seizure during pregnancy, while no epileptic seizures were observed in 31 (38.3%). 19.8% resulted in spontaneous abortion, 72.3% with term live birth, 4.9% in preterm delivery, 2% in still-birth, and 1% in premature still-birth. Mean birth weight of infants whose mothers had no AED treatment, those under monotherapy, and those under polytherapy during pregnancy was 3065.4 g, 2941.3 g, and 2696.6 g, respectively. Congenital malformations, namely dextrocardia, hypospadias, and horseshoe kidney were observed in newborns.

Epileptic pregnancies frequently result with the delivery of a healthy infant. Planning of antiepileptic therapy in the pre-conceptional period, using the appropriate AED for woman’s seizure disorder as monotherapy in the lowest effective dose throughout pregnancy is important.

Keywords: Antiepileptic drugs, epilepsy, pregnancy, seizure