Treatment of women and men with epilepsy in reproductive age

Joanna Jędrzejczak

ISSN: 1505-8409

Przewodnik Lekarza/Guide for GPs

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5/2008
vol. 11

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abstract:

Treatment of women and men with epilepsy in reproductive age

Joanna Jędrzejczak

Przew Lek 2008; 5: 34-38

Online publish date: 2008/12/30

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The choice of antiepileptic drug for women with epilepsy in reproductive age is based on safety of use with hormonal contraceptives and use during pregnancy. The risk of teratogenicity is partly related to the extent of fetal exposure to the AED. The risk is highest in fetuses exposed to higher dosages and to AED polytherapy. Several mechanisms have been postulated to explain the teratogenicity of AEDs. Some of them may be teratogenic because of free radical intermediates, enzymatic deficiency causing accumulation of toxic intermediates and AED-induced folic acid deficiencies. A clear-cut dose-dependent relationship between the extent of fetal exposure and fetal outcome was found for valproate and recently for lamotrigine. The data for newer AEDs such as gabapentin, lamotrigine, felbamate, tiagabine, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, vigabatrin and levetiracetam are limited.

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Treatment of women and men with epilepsy in reproductive age

Joanna Jędrzejczak

epilepsy, antiepileptic dugs, reproductive age