Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2025
Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
Published on: May 16, 2019
Seizure control and pregnancy outcomes in Chinese women with epilepsy: A prospective multicenter cohort study
Nanya Hao1, Ammar T Abdulaziz1, Lu Lu1
1Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Objective:
Data on seizure and pregnancy outcomes in Asian women with epilepsy are limited. We used a Chinese pregnancy registry to assess the impact of seizures and antiseizure medications (ASMs) on pregnant women with epilepsy and their children.
Methods:
This is an ongoing prospective multicenter study of pregnant women with epilepsy that has been running since 2012. Eligible participants were consecutively enrolled and had multiple follow-ups up to one year after delivery. We assessed ASM use and seizure frequency during pregnancy to establish potential effects on the mothers and infants and to identify relevant correlations. Descriptive analysis was used to estimate proportions. Logistic regression was used to identify the relevant risk factors and correlations.
Results:
Of 1907 potentially eligible pregnancies, we included 1763 in 1483 women with known outcomes from January 2012 to February 2022. There were 1278 completed pregnancies, resulting in 1270 live births. Tonic-clonic seizures occurred in fewer than one-third of pregnancies in each trimester. Compared with baseline, seizure frequency remained relatively stable throughout approximately two-thirds of the pregnancies. The majority were on ASM, with levetiracetam (39%), oxcarbazepine (19%), and lamotrigine (17.5%) being the most commonly used. In contrast, only 14.2% of pregnancies were exposed to valproate (VPA). There was a declining trend in treatment adjustments over the course of the pregnancy, with most changes occurring in the first trimester. The incidence of major congenital malformation (MCM) was 4.4%, with cardiogenic and orofacial anomalies being the most common. VPA use (p < .001), lack of folic acid use (p = .009), positive family history of MCM (p = .006), and topiramate (TPM) use (p = .04) were the most important predictors of MCM.
Significance:
Seizure control remained stable for the majority of women with epilepsy throughout pregnancy. Family history of MCM, VPA use, TPM use, and not taking folic acid were strong predictors of MCM in infants born to women with epilepsy.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Arteries of the Lower Limbs
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
01:13Seizures: 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:
01:18Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
01:08Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
Among the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs are...
01:30Electroconvulsive Therapy
01:17Antiepileptic Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers exert their antiepileptic effects by targeting T-type calcium channels, which are integral to transmitting nerve signals in the central nervous system. These channels allow the passage of calcium ions, which are vital for neuronal communication. By inhibiting T-type calcium channels, calcium channel blockers effectively reduce the release of neurotransmitters and...