Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

Disruption of the Mouse Blood-Brain Barrier by Small Extracellular Vesicles from Hypoxic Human Placentas
Published on: January 26, 2024
Maternal seizure disorder and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes
Jessica A McPherson1, Lorie M Harper, Anthony O Odibo
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA. mcphersonj@wudosis.wustl.edu
Objective:
We sought to estimate the association between maternal seizure disorder and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Study Design:
We performed a retrospective cohort study of singleton, nonanomalous pregnancies. Women with self-reported seizure disorder were compared to women without medical problems. The primary outcome was intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) <10th percentile. Secondary outcomes included IUGR <5th percentile, stillbirth, preeclampsia, and preterm delivery. A sensitivity analysis was performed using women who reported using antiepileptics to estimate the impact of disease severity on pregnancy outcomes.
Results:
Of 47,118 women, 440 reported a seizure disorder. Women with seizure disorder were not at increased risk of IUGR <10th percentile (adjusted odds ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-1.50), IUGR <5th percentile, stillbirth, preeclampsia, or preterm delivery. The results were similar in the sensitivity analysis of women taking antiseizure medications.
Conclusion:
Our results suggest women with a seizure disorder are not at increased risk of IUGR, stillbirth, preeclampsia, or preterm delivery.
Related Concept Videos
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Seizures l: Introduction
Seizures: Classification
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Teratogenicity
Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Seizures ll: Types
