Antiepileptic Drugs in Pregnancy: Options for the Prevention of Congenital Abnormalities

Abstract

Maternal antiepileptic drug use during pregnancy is associated with an increased prevalence of congenital malformations in the offspring. This article describes the commonly known teratogenic effects of antiepileptic drugs. Options for primary and secondary prevention are discussed.

From Knowledge to Implementation

“…For maternal diabetes mellitus and epilepsy, our knowledge of risks can help to optimize treatment before and during pregnancy, and thus reduce risks as much as possible [18, 19]. Informing the public and implementation in health care of a broader field of knowledge on prevention of congenital anomalies is a more complex issue, discussed in this issue for developing countries [20], as well as western countries [21].…”