Prognosis of pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in epileptic pregnant women used antiepileptic drugs

Kim, Sung Ug; Lee, Jeong Heon; Rheu, Chul Hee; Cho, Sung Nam

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognosis of pregnancy and perinatal outcomes of epileptic women used antiepileptic drugs.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis of 66 consecutive pregnancies of 41 epileptic women from January 1989 through December 2005 was performed. The maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnancies with epilepsy were compared with those of 1,000 normal pregnancies of similar age and parity occurred during the same period. We also compared the perinatal outcomes regarding protocol of antiepileptic drugs (monotherapy vs polytherapy), existence of gestational seizure, and duration of epileptic history. Statistical analyses with chi-square test and t-test were performed.
RESULTS
In our comparison study between epilepsy and normal groups, with the exception of primigravida (43.8% vs 31.8%, p=0.009), induction of labor (43.1% vs 22.1%, p=0.001) and major congenital malformation (6.9% vs 2.0%, p=0.015), no other significant differences regarding maternal and perinatal outcomes were noted between two groups. There were no different obstetrical outcomes between monotherapy and polytherapy groups. In epileptic women with gestational seizure, the rate of fetal distress (20.0% vs 2.3%, p=0.02) was significantly increased. In longer epileptic history (> or =10 years), the rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, and major congenital malformation were increased, but there was no statistical significance.
CONCLUSION
There are no increased maternal and perinatal complications in epileptic women used antiepileptic drugs, except for major congenital malformation.