PURPOSE: To establish the frequency and appearance of fetal malformations in women with epilepsy and teratogenic risk of the antiepileptic drugs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study is prospective and covers a 12-year period (1996-2007). During this time 107 women with epilepsy till their delivery were studied in the Clinic of Pregnancy in Risk of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Medical University of Pleven. RESULTS: We found in 5 cases (4.76%) fetal and baby's malformations. We point out that during the pregnancy 4 of these 5 women with epilepsy had taken valproates, and the other one--carbamazepine. We found, that the neural tube defects were predominant in this cohort. CONCLUSION: This study shows that all pregnant women with epilepsy should be carefully followed during their period of pregnancy with the help of echocardiography, biochemistry and if it's necessary--amniocenteses. We should inform every pregnant woman with epilepsy for the benefits and risks of the long-term therapy with antiepileptic drugs.
PURPOSE: To establish the frequency and appearance of fetal malformations in women with epilepsy and teratogenic risk of the antiepileptic drugs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study is prospective and covers a 12-year period (1996-2007). During this time 107 women with epilepsy till their delivery were studied in the Clinic of Pregnancy in Risk of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Medical University of Pleven. RESULTS: We found in 5 cases (4.76%) fetal and baby's malformations. We point out that during the pregnancy 4 of these 5 women with epilepsy had taken valproates, and the other one--carbamazepine. We found, that the neural tube defects were predominant in this cohort. CONCLUSION: This study shows that all pregnant women with epilepsy should be carefully followed during their period of pregnancy with the help of echocardiography, biochemistry and if it's necessary--amniocenteses. We should inform every pregnant woman with epilepsy for the benefits and risks of the long-term therapy with antiepileptic drugs.