A Dutch study shows an increased risk of behavioral problems in children of mothers who took antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy.
Affecting one in 200 women of childbearing age, epilepsy is a neurological disease that affects the lifestyles and lifestyle choices of those affected. Among the difficulties that women with epilepsy can encounter are the period of pregnancy.
Although 90 to 95% of these pregnancies take place without any problem, they are considered at risk by the medical profession. In question: not only the precautions to be taken due to the disease, but also the use of antiepileptic drugs. Many studies have shown that their consumption during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations. Others have also showed that the verbal IQ of these children was reduced and that they could encounter school difficulties.
For the first time, a study also sheds light on the long-term effects of common anti-epileptic drugs on the cognitive and behavioral functioning of children of mothers with epilepsy.
Autism Spectrum Disorders and Attention Deficit Disorders
This new work was carried out by Stichting the Epilepsy Instellingen Nederland (SEIN) and by the University of Amsterdam. Published in the journal Epilepsythey show that a high proportion of children exposed before birth to four common antiepileptics had clinical behavior problems, including disruptive, inattentive, aggressive, anxious or socially uncomfortable behaviors, which had repercussions on their daily life and that of their relatives.
To reach this conclusion, the researchers subjected the parents of 181 children aged 6 and 7 to behavioral questionnaires. All these children were exposed before birth to one of the following four antiepileptics: carbamazepine (CBZ), lamotrigine (LTG), levetiracetam (LEV) or valproate (VPA).
The results showed that behavioral problems occur mainly in children exposed to valproate (VPA) during pregnancy. The latter have a higher risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Behavioral problems have also been reported in children exposed to carbamazepine (CBZ), lamotrigine (LTG) and levetiracetam (LEV).
One of the main limitations of the study is that many factors are involved in the development of behavior. Also, parental discovery of oppositional or aggressive behavior may not be directly attributable to antiepileptic drug exposure.
For the principal researcher of the study, Yfke Huber-Mollema, “it is important to monitor the children of mothers with epilepsy and to take into account other possible factors, such as family factors. These can be a point of starting point for interventions to help parents cope with, and even reduce, children’s behavioral problems.”
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