The effect of epilepsy on pregnancy outcomes

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 25% of epilepsy cases are in reproductive ages, their seizures are kept under control by the current anti-epileptic drugs, and pregnancy rates are higher in these cases. In this study, it was aimed to analyze the pregnancy outcomes of epileptic pregnant women. METHODS: This study was conducted retrospectively on the records of pregnant women with epilepsy. The records of 43 epilepsy patients were collected between January 2009 and April 2014. The control group consisted of 87 patients who applied to the hospital, they did not have any systemic disease and use any drugs, had single live pregnancy, were similar age and in similar gestational week, and had a complete record. The cases in both groups were statistically compared according to the demographic characteristics (age, gravida, parity, the number of aborts), gestational week, mode of delivery, Apgar scores at 1st and 5th minute, birth weight, the duration of epilepsy diagnosis, seizure frequency, used antiepileptic drug by the mother, maternal complications and pregnancy complications. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the demographic and perinatal outcomes between the two groups (p<0.05), but the number of aborts was significantly higher in the pregnant women group with epilepsy than that in the healthy pregnant women group (p: 0.035). When two groups were compared in terms of pregnancy complications, more pregnancy complications were detected in the epileptic group than in the control group (p: 0.001). When two groups were compared in terms of pregnancy complications, the rates of pregnancy complications (oligohydroamnios, preterm labor, preeclampsia and eclampsia) were higher in the epileptic group than those in the control group (p: 0.001). The cesarean delivery rate was high in both groups (68.4% and 62.4%). The most common type of seizure in the epileptic pregnant women was generalized tonic-clonic seizure (81.6%). As the epileptic seizure number increased, the Apgar score at 5th minute decreased. 26.3% of the cases were not taking drugs while 55.3% of them were taking monotherapy, and 18.4% of them were taking polytherapy in the period of the study. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In epileptic pregnancies, the rates of pregnancy related complications and poor perinatal outcomes are higher. As the number of seizures increases in pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes are adversely affected. These patients should be given good counseling before pregnancy and pregnancy should be recommended in a seizure-free period.

Keywords

• epilepsy
• convulsion
• epileptic seizure
• pregnancy outcomes
• perinatal outcomes