Objective: To determine the maternal and fetal complications in pregnant epileptic women seen at neurology clinic in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Methods: Retrospective chart review of pregnant epileptic women who presented in neurology clinic of Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad from January 2009 to December 2010. The data including demographics, type of epilepsy, and complications during pregnancy were recorded in a structured proforma.
Results: A total of 19 patients were seen during this period. The mean age was 27 years (± 4.5). All were on antiepileptic medications, 7 (36.8%) were on dual antiepileptic drugs (AED). Among 19 patients, 5 (31.2%) were on valproate either alone or in combination. A total of seven complications occurred in six pregnancies including premature labor in 3 (15.8%), IUD in 2 (10.5%), ectopic pregnancy and intrauterine growth retardation in 1 patient each. Sixteen women were followed up to delivery. Two patients had low birth weight babies. None of the children born had any major malformation.
Conclusion: The frequency of major malformations in babies was low; however, pregnancy related complications were seen in almost 1/3 of our patients including IUD and higher incidence of caesarian section. There is a need to establish epilepsy registries in Pakistan to evaluate the complications of epilepsy and AEDS, risk of malformation and AED side effects.
Key words: Women with epilepsy, maternal and fetal complications, pregnancy, Pakistan, intrauterine death, partial epilepsy
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