Careful planning and monitoring is important for women with epilepsy who become pregnant. Several studies from AES 2016 address pregnancy issues.
Studies presented at the 2016 American Epilepsy Society Scientific Sessions examined pregnancy issues in women with epilepsy. One study looked at predictors of unintended pregnancy, another discussed antiepileptic drug prescribing patterns, and two studies reported on specific drugs, brivaracetam and lamotrigine, taken during pregnancy.Â
AES 2016: Pregnancy in Women with Epilepsy
Predictors of Unintended Pregnancy in Women with Epilepsy
Does the rate of unintended pregnancy in women with epilepsy vary by contraceptive category and/or antiepileptic drug (AED) category?
Unintended pregnancy rate correlated inversely with age
There is a high rate of unintended pregnancies in women with epilepsy, especially in those using oral hormone forms of contraception and taking enzyme-inducing AEDs
Pregnancy Outcomes in Women Treated with Brivaracetam during the Clinical Development Program
In animal studies, brivaracetam (BRV) showed evidence of developmental toxicity at plasma exposures greater than clinical exposures, but what was the clinical experience of pregnant women?
Patient withdrawn from study if pregnant, so BRV use mostly confined to first trimester
There seems to be no particular risk with BRV during pregnancy, but only a few pregnancies have been reported to date. Researchers advise BRV use in pregnancy only if benefit to mother outweighs risk to fetus.
Antiepileptic Drug Prescribing Patterns in Pregnant Women with Epilepsy: Findings from the MONEAD Study
What are prescribing practices for pregnant women with epilepsy?
Further MONEAD studies will include maternal outcomes and neurodevelopmental effects, as well AED prescriptions by seizure types, frequency, and other epilepsy factors.
Clearance Changes of Lamotrigine during Pregnancy Are Detectable within the First Trimester of Pregnancy
What changes in lamotrigine clearance occur during the first trimester in women with epilepsy?
Early pregnancy detection is important since clearance can begin early in first trimester. Future study will follow clearance beyond first trimester.