Article Published by NeurologyLive
Recently published findings from an updated systematic review and meta-analysis showed that women with epilepsy have worse perinatal outcomes compared with women without epilepsy, including a 5-fold increase in the odds of maternal death.
“When counseling pregnant women with epilepsy and those of childbearing age, clinicians should consider these findings,” lead investigator Paolo Mazzone, PhD student, University of Edinburgh, and colleagues concluded. “In addition, clinicians and women with epilepsy should bear in mind the increased odds of negative adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.”
Neonates born to women with epilepsy showed increased odds of 1-minute and 5-minute Apgar scores less than 8, NICU admission (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.58-2.51), SGA (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.22-1.55), birth weigh less than 2500 g (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.20-1.53), neonatal and infant death (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.56-2.24), and congenital conditions (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.66-2.12). Additionally, the presence of epilepsy was associated with reduced birth weight, mean body length, mean head circumference, and mean gestational age for neonates.