According to researchers at Harvard University (USA), although it is understood that epilepsy can increase the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, there was little data until then. specifics regarding these risks. The researchers wanted to fill this gap by studying the medical records of nearly 4.2 million women who gave birth in the United States between 2007 and 2011. Of these women 14,500 suffered from epilepsy.
All delivery complications were counted including preterm delivery, cesarean delivery, pre-eclampsia or maternal mortality.
Applying their figures nationwide, the researchers claim that there is a ten times higher risk of maternal death in women with epilepsy: 80 deaths per 100,000 pregnancies while the rate is 6 deaths per 100,000 pregnancies in non-epileptic women.
Additionally, the team found women with epilepsy were at greater risk for other complications, such as preterm labor, preeclampsia, or stillbirth (a stillborn child). These women were also more likely to need a cesarean section for childbirth.
Each year in France, 5,000 babies are born to mothers suffering from epilepsy. Pregnancy in these women is not safe for the baby because epilepsy medications can increase the risk of birth defects. Medicines based on valproate in particular, would have caused 377 malformations in France between 1986 and 2015 as well as 54 miscarriages, abortions or death of infants. The Minister of Social Affairs and Health has also just ordered an investigation into the conditions of use of this drug.
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