The course and outcome of pregnancy in women with epilepsy in Valie-Asr Hospital

Abstract EN

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify pregnancy outcome (fetal & maternal) in women with epilepsy.

Material and methods: A retrospective review of the fifty three pregnant women with epilepsy who delivered in the Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology of the valie-asr hospital in Tehran over 9 years (1991-2000).

Results: The most common seizure type was tonic-clonic seizure, Carbamazepin was the most drug used (44%) next was Phenobarbital (30%) & Phenytoin (16%).

Sixty four percent of women were under mono therapy and the remaining (36%) poly therapy.

70% of women had seizure during pregnancy.

Most important obstetrical complications were premature labor (23%), PROM (20%) & pre-eclampsia (9%).

There was no congenital heart disease but we observed 1 case of club foot and 7 cases of CDH in the mothers who took AED.

One case of myelomeningocele was found in a child of a mother who didn’t take any drug during pregnancy and had multiple seizure attacks.

Average birth weight was 3140 gr and 16.5% of neonates had birth weight of under 2500 gr (LBW).

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated LBW and obstetrical complications (premature labor, PROM & pre-eclampsia) had two fold increase compared to normal pregnant women.

Most women had a good outcome without any major complications.