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Patient withdrawn from study if pregnant, so BRV use mostly confined to first trimester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.