Abstract

THE CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF EPILEPSY IN PREGNANT WOMEN

L. Divya Bhargavi*, K. Rishitha, Dr. G. Sushmitha, Dr. V. Tejaswi,
Dr. G. Ramesh and P. Srinivasa Babu

ABSTRACT

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterised by seizures. The antiepileptic drugs prescribed for management of women with epilepsy during pregnancy have to face different challenges. The goal of treatment is to control seizures in women and minimise foetal exposure to AEDs so as to reduce the risk of structural and neuro developmental teratogenic effects on the foetus. Seizure threshold may be lowered with a number of pregnancy associated changes such as physiological, endocrine, and psychological. As seizures can harm both mother and foetus, these women need antiepileptic drug treatment. The pharmacokinetics of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy can altered by hormonal and other factors. Higher dosage and polytherapy of AEDs can increase the risk of fetal malformation during antenatal exposure. Clinicians have to balance potential foetal adverse effects against the risks of uncontrolled maternal disease while treating with antiepileptic drugs in pregnant women. The treatment goal in pregnancy is to maintain a balance between the harmful effects of seizures and an effective but low dose of a single antiepileptic drug.

Keywords: epilepsy, anti-epileptic drugs, foetal abnormalities, neural tube defects.