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Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023 Aug 29;8(8):CD010224. Epub 2023 Aug 29.

Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.

Background: Prenatal exposure to certain anti-seizure medications (ASMs) is associated with an increased risk of major congenital malformations (MCM). The majority of women with epilepsy continue taking ASMs throughout pregnancy and, therefore, information on the potential risks associated with ASM treatment is required.

Objectives: To assess the effects of prenatal exposure to ASMs on the prevalence of MCM in the child. Read More

Lancet Neurol 2023 Aug;22(8):712-722

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Background: The neurodevelopmental effects of fetal exposure to most antiseizure medications are unclear. We aimed to investigate the effects of fetal exposure to commonly used antiseizure medications on neuropsychological outcomes at age 3 years.

Methods: The Maternal Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (MONEAD) study is a prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study at 20 specialty epilepsy centres in the USA. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023 Jul 11;23(1):505. Epub 2023 Jul 11.

Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Shangcai village, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China.

Background: The AntiEpileptic Drug Monitoring in PREgnancy (EMPiRE) model is the only available tool for predicting seizures in pregnant women with epilepsy (WWE) using anti-seizure medications (ASMs); however, its predictive performance requires validation. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive ability of this model in pregnant Chinese WWE and its potential usefulness in clinical practice.

Methods: Data of the EMPiRE model were derived from the EMPiRE study, a prospective multicenter cohort study that recruited women on ASM monotherapy (lamotrigine, carbamazepine, phenytoin or levetiracetam) or polytherapy (lamotrigine with either carbamazepine, phenytoin or levetiracetam). Read More

Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2023 Sep 28;474:116611. Epub 2023 Jun 28.

Laboratory of Clinical Pharmaceutics & Therapeutics, Division of Pharmasciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan. Electronic address:

The placenta is a critical organ for fetal development and a healthy pregnancy, and has multifaceted functions (e.g., substance exchange and hormone secretion). Read More

Epilepsia 2023 Sep 14;64(9):2310-2321. Epub 2023 Jul 14.

Department of Neurology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Türkiye.

Objective: The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of anti-seizure medications (ASMs), patient demographic characteristics, and the seizure type and frequency on the development of congenital malformations (CMs) in the infants of pregnant women with epilepsy (PWWE).

Methods: PWWE followed up at the neurology outpatient clinic of 21 centers between 2014 and 2019 were included in this prospective study. The follow-up of PWWE was conducted using structured, general pregnant follow-up forms prepared by the Pregnancy and Epilepsy Study Committee. Read More