BACKGROUND: Little is known about the safety of vagus nerve stimulation during pregnancy. CASE REPORT: Herein we report the case of a young woman affected by childhood-onset partial epilepsy, obesity, and depression in which a malfunctioning of VNS was detected during pregnancy. Although device functioning was not optimal during the critical period of organogenesis, no morphological abnormalities of the fetus were detected. CONCLUSION: A confirmation of VNS safety may increase its use during pregnancy, thus reducing possible systemic effects of antiepileptic drugs and antidepressants on the women and the baby.
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the safety of vagus nerve stimulation during pregnancy. CASE REPORT: Herein we report the case of a young woman affected by childhood-onset partial epilepsy, obesity, and depression in which a malfunctioning of VNS was detected during pregnancy. Although device functioning was not optimal during the critical period of organogenesis, no morphological abnormalities of the fetus were detected. CONCLUSION: A confirmation of VNS safety may increase its use during pregnancy, thus reducing possible systemic effects of antiepileptic drugs and antidepressants on the women and the baby.
Authors: Peter W Kaplan; Errol R Norwitz; Elinor Ben-Menachem; Page B Pennell; Maurice Druzin; Julian N Robinson; Jacki C Gordon Journal: Epilepsy Behav Date: 2007-11 Impact factor: 2.937
Authors: J V Pardo; S A Sheikh; M A Kuskowski; C Surerus-Johnson; M C Hagen; J T Lee; B R Rittberg; D E Adson Journal: Int J Obes (Lond) Date: 2007-06-12 Impact factor: 5.095
Authors: G Mawer; M Briggs; G A Baker; R Bromley; H Coyle; J Eatock; L Kerr; U Kini; L Kuzmyshcheva; S B Lucas; L Wyatt; J Clayton-Smith Journal: Seizure Date: 2009-12-24 Impact factor: 3.184