Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Half-life of a Reaction02:42

Half-life of a Reaction

39.4K
The half-life of a reaction (t1/2) is the time required for one-half of a given amount of reactant to be consumed. In each succeeding half-life, half of the remaining concentration of the reactant is consumed. For example, during the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, during the first half-life (from 0.00 hours to 6.00 hours), the concentration of H2O2 decreases from 1.000 M to 0.500 M. During the second half-life (from 6.00 hours to 12.00 hours), the concentration decreases from 0.500 M to...
39.4K
Characteristics of Life01:23

Characteristics of Life

262.9K
Biology is a natural science that studies life and living organisms, including their structure, function, development, interactions, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. The field's scope is extensive and divided into several specialized disciplines, such as anatomy, physiology, ethology, genetics, and many more. All living things share a few key traits, including cellular organization, heritable genetic material and the ability to adapt/evolve, metabolism to regulate energy needs, the...
262.9K
The Angiosperm Life Cycle02:39

The Angiosperm Life Cycle

72.9K
Plants have a life cycle split between two multicellular stages: a haploid stage—with cells containing one set of chromosomes—and a diploid stage—with cells containing two sets of chromosomes. The haploid stage is the gamete-producing gametophyte, and the diploid stage is the spore-producing sporophyte.
72.9K
The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes02:40

The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes

39.1K
The “tree of life” describes the evolution of life and the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The root of the tree is the common ancestor to all life on Earth. All other species radiate from this point, much like the branches of a tree. The numerous tips of these branches on the tree of life represent every living, or extant, species. Extinct species, which are species that no longer exist, can be found towards the center of the tree. Currently, these organisms, both...
39.1K
Life Tables01:22

Life Tables

544
A life table is a statistical tool that summarizes the mortality and survival patterns of a population, providing detailed insights into the likelihood of survival or death across different age intervals within a cohort. By organizing data on survival probabilities and mortality rates, life tables offer a clear snapshot of population dynamics over time. They are extensively used in demography, public health, actuarial science, and ecology to analyze life expectancy, design health interventions,...
544
Life Histories01:29

Life Histories

22.9K
Overview
22.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Hypophosphatemia in the first seizure clinic: Data from a second UK center.

Epilepsia open·2026
Same author

Global & Community Health: What Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Teach Us About Neurologic Surveillance Approaches, and How Should We Be Better Prepared?

Neurology·2025
Same author

Hippocampal abnormality and response to vagus nerve stimulation in epilepsy.

Epilepsia·2025
Same author

The epilepsy deaths register: Third-party reports of SUDEP in adults and older adolescents.

Seizure·2025
Same author

Changes in Gray Matter Morphology and White Matter Microstructure Across the Adult Lifespan in People With Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

Neurology·2025
Same author

Development and Adaptive Function in Individuals With <i>SCN2A</i>-Related Disorders.

Neurology·2025
Same journal

Premature ventricular complexes.

Clinical medicine (London, England)·2026
Same journal

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF): diagnosis and management for the general physician.

Clinical medicine (London, England)·2026
Same journal

Trends and Widening Inequities in Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Involvement in Cardiovascular Mortality: A National Spatiotemporal Analysis, 2014-2023.

Clinical medicine (London, England)·2026
Same journal

Educating current and future healthcare professionals on evidence-based sustainable medicine.

Clinical medicine (London, England)·2026
Same journal

UK Foundation Programme training needs a national minimum standard for advanced life support.

Clinical medicine (London, England)·2026
Same journal

Prognostic value of left atrial diameter in chronic kidney disease: The KNOW-CKD study.

Clinical medicine (London, England)·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Detection of miRNA Targets in High-throughput Using the 3'LIFE Assay
12:49

Detection of miRNA Targets in High-throughput Using the 3'LIFE Assay

Published on: May 25, 2015

10.5K

Valproate: life-saving, life-changing.

Rhys H Thomas1

  • 1Royal Victoria Infirmary and intermediate clinical lecturer, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.

Clinical Medicine (London, England)
|April 28, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Valproate in pregnancy poses significant risks, including major malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders, necessitating better clinician and patient education on these teratogenic effects.

Keywords:
Autismepilepsypregnancyteratogens­valproate

More Related Videos

A Method for Quantifying Upper Limb Performance in Daily Life Using Accelerometers
07:24

A Method for Quantifying Upper Limb Performance in Daily Life Using Accelerometers

Published on: April 21, 2017

13.1K
Assessing the Effects of Music Listening on Psychobiological Stress in Daily Life
07:17

Assessing the Effects of Music Listening on Psychobiological Stress in Daily Life

Published on: February 2, 2017

13.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Detection of miRNA Targets in High-throughput Using the 3'LIFE Assay
12:49

Detection of miRNA Targets in High-throughput Using the 3'LIFE Assay

Published on: May 25, 2015

10.5K
A Method for Quantifying Upper Limb Performance in Daily Life Using Accelerometers
07:24

A Method for Quantifying Upper Limb Performance in Daily Life Using Accelerometers

Published on: April 21, 2017

13.1K
Assessing the Effects of Music Listening on Psychobiological Stress in Daily Life
07:17

Assessing the Effects of Music Listening on Psychobiological Stress in Daily Life

Published on: February 2, 2017

13.8K

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Teratology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Valproate is a commonly prescribed antiepileptic drug with known teratogenic potential.
  • Existing guidelines on fetal risks from valproate exposure in utero do not fully address clinical decision-making complexities.
  • There are knowledge gaps regarding risks to mothers and infants when switching or discontinuing valproate during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the critical need for improved education for clinicians and expectant parents regarding the risks associated with valproate use during pregnancy.
  • To emphasize the dual nature of valproate as a teratogen and a potentially life-saving medication for seizure control in mothers with epilepsy.
  • To address the insufficient understanding of risks associated with alternative medications or complete cessation of valproate therapy in pregnant individuals.

Main Methods:

  • This study is a review and synthesis of existing literature and guidelines on valproate teratogenicity.
  • Analysis of clinical decision-making complexities in the context of epilepsy management during pregnancy.
  • Identification of knowledge gaps concerning maternal and fetal outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Valproate exposure in utero is associated with a 10% risk of major malformations and a 30-40% risk of neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • While valproate can be life-saving for seizure control, its teratogenic effects are significant.
  • There is a lack of comprehensive data on the risks of alternative antiepileptic drugs or discontinuing valproate during pregnancy.

Conclusions:

  • Enhanced education on valproate's teratogenic risks is crucial for clinicians and potential parents.
  • Balancing the benefits of seizure control with the risks of fetal development requires careful clinical consideration.
  • Further research is needed to understand the risks associated with alternative treatments and medication cessation in pregnant women with epilepsy, alongside efforts to reduce Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).