TY - JOUR
T1 - Reproductive health effects and teratogenicity of antiepileptic drugs
AU - Kaplan, Peter W.
PY - 2004/11/23
Y1 - 2004/11/23
N2 - Women with epilepsy are less likely to bear children than women in the general population, and although this reduced fertility can be attributed in part to effects of the disease itself, the effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including changes in reproductive endocrine function, are also a factor. Conversely, some AEDs interact with oral contraceptives and can increase the risk for contraceptive failure and unplanned pregnancy. Women with epilepsy also have elevated rates of congenital anomalies and major malformations in their offspring, for which exposure of the developing fetus to AEDs taken by the mother appears to be responsible. In utero exposure to some AEDs may also be associated with increased risk for impaired cognitive function in the growing child. Clearly, possible long-term effects on reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes require careful attention when AED therapy is being considered for a patient with childbearing potential. Moreover, because AEDs are increasingly being used in therapy for other conditions such as migraine, bipolar disorder, and pain, it is not only the treatment of women with epilepsy that will be affected by these concerns.
AB - Women with epilepsy are less likely to bear children than women in the general population, and although this reduced fertility can be attributed in part to effects of the disease itself, the effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including changes in reproductive endocrine function, are also a factor. Conversely, some AEDs interact with oral contraceptives and can increase the risk for contraceptive failure and unplanned pregnancy. Women with epilepsy also have elevated rates of congenital anomalies and major malformations in their offspring, for which exposure of the developing fetus to AEDs taken by the mother appears to be responsible. In utero exposure to some AEDs may also be associated with increased risk for impaired cognitive function in the growing child. Clearly, possible long-term effects on reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes require careful attention when AED therapy is being considered for a patient with childbearing potential. Moreover, because AEDs are increasingly being used in therapy for other conditions such as migraine, bipolar disorder, and pain, it is not only the treatment of women with epilepsy that will be affected by these concerns.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=8844276645&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=8844276645&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1212/wnl.63.10_suppl_4.s13
DO - 10.1212/wnl.63.10_suppl_4.s13
M3 - Review article
C2 - 15557546
AN - SCOPUS:8844276645
SN - 0028-3878
VL - 63
SP - S13-S23
JO - Neurology
JF - Neurology
IS - 10 SUPPL. 4
ER -