Paternal exposure to antiseizure medications and offspring outcomes: a systematic review.

Background: Concerns have recently been raised about risks to the fetus resulting from paternal exposure to antiseizure medications (ASMs). To address these concerns, we conducted a systematic review of the literature to assess neurodevelopmental and anatomical outcomes in offspring born to fathers taking ASMs at the time of conception.

Methods: Electronic searches of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Embase were conducted to identify human studies published in English that reported on outcomes, comprising neurodevelopmental disorders, major congenital malformations, small-for-gestational age or low birth weight, in offspring of fathers taking ASMs at conception.

Danish population based study of familial epilepsy and childhood cancer.

Results from studies investigating the association between maternal or child epilepsy, use of anticonvulsants in pregnancy, and childhood cancer are inconsistent and at times contradictory. Linking Danish national databases, we obtained epilepsy and childhood cancer diagnoses, and anticonvulsant use data. We estimated adjusted odds ratios of all or specific childhood cancers in relation to maternal or child epilepsy and anticonvulsant therapies using conditional logistic regression.

Nulliparous Individuals with Class III Obesity: Adverse Outcomes with Labor versus Planned Cesarean Delivery.

Objective:  Individuals with class III obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 40 kg/m) are at increased risk of cesarean delivery (CD) and peripartum complications. We ascertained compositive neonatal and maternal adverse outcomes among individuals with class III obesity who labored versus had planned CD.

Study Design:  This was a retrospective cohort study from 2016 to 2021 using the National Vital Statistics System database.

Effects of antiseizure medication withdrawal during the first trimester of pregnancy on seizure control and offspring outcomes.

Objective: To explore seizure control and offspring outcomes associated with antiseizure medication (ASM) withdrawal during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Methods: Based on a prospective multicenter study in China, pregnancies followed up between 2009 and 2023 at the neurology outpatient clinic of 50 hospitals were included in this study. Information on demographics, epileptic characteristics, treatment during pregnancy, and offspring outcomes was collected.

Gender-specific association of multiple risk factors with neonatal moderate or severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) leads to different degrees of neurological sequelae. The incidence of HIE is relatively high, and the causal pathways leading to HIE are still controversial. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with HIE comparing differences between genders.

Cognitive outcomes after fetal exposure to carbamazepine, lamotrigine, valproate or levetiracetam monotherapy: Data from the EURAP neurocognitive extension protocol.

Purpose: Prenatal exposure to antiseizure medications (ASMs) has been associated with an increased risk of major malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders, with the latter being mainly associated with valproate (VPA). Our aim was to compare neurocognitive outcome at age 6-7 years in children exposed prenatally to lamotrigine (LTG), carbamazepine (CBZ), valproate (VPA) or levetiracetam (LEV) monotherapy.

Methods: Eligible mother-child pairs were identified from the observational prospective multinational EURAP cohort study.

Psychosocial burden in mothers with epilepsy and their caregiver: Feasibility and preliminary results of a digital screening procedure.

Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing a digital procedure to screen for anxiety and depression as well as impairments in psychosocial aspects, such as social support, social activity and quality of life (QoL) in women with epilepsy (WWE) after childbirth. Furthermore, the study intends to digitally screen for burden of the respective caregivers in WWE compared to a healthy control group.

Materials And Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in the post-partum period on 30 WWE and 33 healthy controls who gave birth between 01/2018 and 05/2021.

Kir6.1, a component of an ATP-sensitive potassium channel, regulates natural killer cell development.

Involved in immunity and reproduction, natural killer (NK) cells offer opportunities to develop new immunotherapies to treat infections and cancer or to alleviate pregnancy complications. Most current strategies use cytokines or antibodies to enhance NK-cell function, but none use ion channel modulators, which are widely used in clinical practice to treat hypertension, diabetes, epilepsy, and other conditions. Little is known about ion channels in NK cells.

POLG epilepsy presenting as new-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) in pregnancy.

A 21-year-old woman developed explosive new-onset refractory status epilepticus when 18 weeks pregnant. She had been previously well with no history of seizures and a normal developmental history. She had initially presented with focal impaired awareness seizures but subsequently developed status epilepticus requiring intensive care unit admission and was successfully treated with multiple anti-seizure medications.

Facial dysmorphism and Limb abnormalities of Fetal Valproate Syndrome.

A neonate born to nonconsanguineous parents was evaluated for dysmorphic features. The neonate was born at term by normal vaginal delivery. The mother has had epilepsy for 12 years and has been on sodium valproate (700 mg/day) since conception and throughout pregnancy.

Eclampsia or epilepsy? The intriguing experiences of pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia and eclampsia: A descriptive exploratory study.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of pregnant women who suffer the stressful effects of preeclampsia and eclampsia through pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum.

Methods: A descriptive exploratory approach was adopted to gather in-depth data from women diagnosed with preeclampsia and eclampsia during pregnancy from February to March 2022. Purposive sampling was used to enlist 12 participants from a Municipal Hospital in the Ahafo region of Ghana.

Women's health in focus: Real-world data on valproate prescriptions during pregnancy - a cohort study in Catalonia (Spain).

Objectives: To characterise the exposure to valproate within a cohort of pregnant women using electronic health records (EHRs) from Catalonia (System for the Development of Research in Primary Care, SIDIAP).

Design: Drug-utilisation cohort study covering the period from January 2011 to June 2020. The study included pregnancy episodes of women from Catalonia identified by the algorithm.

The PRECISE-DYAD Neurodevelopmental substudy protocol: neurodevelopmental risk in children of mothers with pregnancy complications.

Background: Over 250 million children are not reaching their developmental potential globally. The impact of prenatal factors and their interplay with postnatal environmental factors on child neurodevelopment, is still unclear-particularly in low- and middle-income settings. This study aims to understand the impact of pregnancy complications as well as environmental, psychosocial, and biological predictors on neurodevelopmental trajectories.

[Progress and Challenges in Epilepsy Treatment].

Neurologists have played an important role in the treatment of adult epilepsy for more than 60 years since the establishment of the Japanese Society of Neurology. The terminology used in epileptology in Japan is adopted from that used by the International League Against Epilepsy. The terminology for seizures observed in temporal lobe epilepsy has transitioned from psychomotor to complex partial and currently to focal impaired awareness seizures.

Exposure to anti-seizure medication during pregnancy and the risk of autism and ADHD in offspring: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Evidence of an association between maternal use of anti-seizure medication (ASM) during pregnancy and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children is conflicting. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the relationship between fetal exposure to ASM and the development of ASD or ADHD in offspring.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and other databases to identify relevant epidemiological studies published from inception until 1 March 2024.

Risk of Perinatal and Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Among Pregnant Women With Epilepsy.

Importance: Maternal epilepsy is associated with adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. A better understanding of this condition and the associated risk of mortality and morbidity at the time of delivery could help reduce adverse outcomes.

Objective: To determine the risk of severe maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality among women with epilepsy.

A Review of Concordance and Quality in Clinical Guidelines for Hormonal Contraceptives to Mitigate Drug-Drug Interactions in Women With Epilepsy.

Purpose: Concomitant use of hormonal contraceptive agents (HCAs) and enzyme-inducting antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs) may lead to contraceptive failure and unintended pregnancy. This review identified and evaluated concordance and quality of clinical treatment guidelines related to the use of HCAs in women with epilepsy (WWE) receiving EIAEDs.

Methods: Relevant clinical guidelines were identified across four databases and were independently evaluated for quality utilizing the AGREE-II protocol instrument.