Pregnancy, epilepsy, and anticonvulsants.

The majority of epileptic disorders are not self-limiting over time, and therefore require a long-lasting and often even lifelong antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment. In women with epilepsy the influence of their disease on the possibility and course of pregnancies, as well as the potential impact of the AED treatment on mother and child, are crucial questions. This review addresses the clinically relevant knowledge concerning the impact of the disease itself and the AED treatment on fertility pregnancy, delivery, the postpartum period, and teratogenicity. Some of the new AEDs appear to have a favorable profile due to a lack of clinically relevant interactions and promising teratogenic profiles. However, the finding of decreases in lamotrigine serum concentrations during hormonal contraception and pregnancy is an instructive example, showing that ongoing studies are urgently needed to further investigate still-unanswered questions. Several prospective multinational surveys are currently being performed, and should add essential information