OBJECTIVE: Children born to women with epilepsy (WWE), exposed in utero to levetiracetam (LEV, n = 51), were assessed for early cognitive development and compared to children exposed to sodium valproate in utero (VPA, n = 44) and a group of children representative of the general population (n = 97). METHODS: Children were recruited prospectively from 2 cohorts in the United Kingdom and assessed using the Griffiths Mental Development Scale (1996), aged <24 months. Information regarding maternal demographics were collected and controlled for. This is an observational study with researchers not involved in the clinical management of the WWE. RESULTS: On overall developmental ability, children exposed to LEV obtained higher developmental scores when compared to children exposed to VPA (p < 0.001). When compared, children exposed to LEV did not differ from control children (p = 0.62) on overall development. Eight percent of children exposed to LEV in utero fell within the below average range (DQ score of <84), compared with 40% of children exposed to VPA. After controlling for maternal epilepsy and demographic factors using linear regression analysis, exposure to LEV in utero was not associated with outcome (p = 0.67). Conversely, when compared with VPA exposure, LEV exposure was associated with higher scores for the overall developmental quotient (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Children exposed to LEV in utero are not at an increased risk of delayed early cognitive development under the age of 24 months. LEV may therefore be a preferable drug choice, where appropriate, for WWE prior to and of childbearing age.
OBJECTIVE:Children born to women with epilepsy (WWE), exposed in utero to levetiracetam (LEV, n = 51), were assessed for early cognitive development and compared to children exposed to sodium valproate in utero (VPA, n = 44) and a group of children representative of the general population (n = 97). METHODS:Children were recruited prospectively from 2 cohorts in the United Kingdom and assessed using the Griffiths Mental Development Scale (1996), aged <24 months. Information regarding maternal demographics were collected and controlled for. This is an observational study with researchers not involved in the clinical management of the WWE. RESULTS: On overall developmental ability, children exposed to LEV obtained higher developmental scores when compared to children exposed to VPA (p < 0.001). When compared, children exposed to LEV did not differ from control children (p = 0.62) on overall development. Eight percent of children exposed to LEV in utero fell within the below average range (DQ score of <84), compared with 40% of children exposed to VPA. After controlling for maternal epilepsy and demographic factors using linear regression analysis, exposure to LEV in utero was not associated with outcome (p = 0.67). Conversely, when compared with VPA exposure, LEV exposure was associated with higher scores for the overall developmental quotient (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION:Children exposed to LEV in utero are not at an increased risk of delayed early cognitive development under the age of 24 months. LEV may therefore be a preferable drug choice, where appropriate, for WWE prior to and of childbearing age.
Authors: J Morrow; A Russell; E Guthrie; L Parsons; I Robertson; R Waddell; B Irwin; R C McGivern; P J Morrison; J Craig Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 2005-09-12 Impact factor: 10.154
Authors: Aline J C Russell; John J Craig; Patrick Morrison; Beth Irwin; Ruth Waddell; Linda Parsons; Iain Robertson; Eleanor Guthrie; Jim I Morrow Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2004-11 Impact factor: 5.864
Authors: Petra Bittigau; Marco Sifringer; Kerstin Genz; Ellen Reith; Dana Pospischil; Suresh Govindarajalu; Mark Dzietko; Stefanie Pesditschek; Ingrid Mai; Krikor Dikranian; John W Olney; Chrysanthy Ikonomidou Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2002-11-04 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: S Hunt; J Craig; A Russell; E Guthrie; L Parsons; I Robertson; R Waddell; B Irwin; P J Morrison; J Morrow Journal: Neurology Date: 2006-11-28 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Nina Isoherranen; Ofer Spiegelstein; Meir Bialer; Jing Zhang; Michelle Merriweather; Boris Yagen; Michael Roeder; Aleata A Triplett; Volker Schurig; Richard H Finnell Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2003-10 Impact factor: 5.864