Obstetrical complications in women with epilepsy

Purpose: Better knowledge of risk factors for women with epilepsy giving birth. Method: Investigating all studies reporting complications in pregnancy and deliveries in women with epilepsy during the last 15 years. Results: Studies have observed that women with epilepsy have a higher risk of preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, bleeding in pregnancy, caesarean delivery (CD), excessive bleeding postpartum, preterm birth, and small for gestational age. It has been unclear whether the increased risk of complications is due to the epilepsy per se, the use of antiepileptic drugs (AED), or the combination of both factors. Recent studies strongly indicate an association between AED use, and complications in pregnancy and labour. Conclusion: Newer drugs commonly used in treatment of epilepsy are associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications, as well as complication during labour and delivery. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of British Epilepsy Association.