Epilepsy Linked to Risks During Childbirth, Study Finds
Epilepsy Linked to Risks During Childbirth, Study Finds
But complications or maternal death during delivery are still rare, experts say
The study included nearly 4.2 million deliveries, of which more than 14,100 were among women with epilepsy. In the United States, between 0.3 percent and 0.5 percent of all pregnancies occur in women with epilepsy.
The reasons for the increased risk of death and other adverse outcomes aren't known, MacDonald said.
For example, the researchers didn't have information on anti-seizure medications the women may have been taking, so they didn't know if these drugs may have had a part in the increased risk.
"While future work is needed to clarify the particular role of anti-epileptic medication on obstetric risks, our work is meaningful in that it highlights a vulnerable patient population," MacDonald said.
According to the study, women with epilepsy were more likely to suffer from other medical problems, such as depression, diabetes, kidney disease, mental disorders and alcohol and drug abuse. However, whether these conditions played a part in increasing the risk of death during childbirth isn't known.
"The study was not designed to determine the role of other medical problems the women had on the increased risks in women with epilepsy," MacDonald said.
More research is needed to understand why women with epilepsy have an increased risk and to determine what can be done to reduce these adverse outcomes, she said.
But, knowing the higher risk in women with epilepsy independent of the reasons is relevant for clinical practice and pregnancy planning, MacDonald said.
"In the meantime, it may be necessary to consider pregnancies in women with epilepsy as high risk and follow them up accordingly throughout pregnancy," she said.
Epilepsy Linked to Risks During Childbirth
But complications or maternal death during delivery are still rare, experts say
The study included nearly 4.2 million deliveries, of which more than 14,100 were among women with epilepsy. In the United States, between 0.3 percent and 0.5 percent of all pregnancies occur in women with epilepsy.
The reasons for the increased risk of death and other adverse outcomes aren't known, MacDonald said.
For example, the researchers didn't have information on anti-seizure medications the women may have been taking, so they didn't know if these drugs may have had a part in the increased risk.
"While future work is needed to clarify the particular role of anti-epileptic medication on obstetric risks, our work is meaningful in that it highlights a vulnerable patient population," MacDonald said.
According to the study, women with epilepsy were more likely to suffer from other medical problems, such as depression, diabetes, kidney disease, mental disorders and alcohol and drug abuse. However, whether these conditions played a part in increasing the risk of death during childbirth isn't known.
"The study was not designed to determine the role of other medical problems the women had on the increased risks in women with epilepsy," MacDonald said.
More research is needed to understand why women with epilepsy have an increased risk and to determine what can be done to reduce these adverse outcomes, she said.
But, knowing the higher risk in women with epilepsy independent of the reasons is relevant for clinical practice and pregnancy planning, MacDonald said.
"In the meantime, it may be necessary to consider pregnancies in women with epilepsy as high risk and follow them up accordingly throughout pregnancy," she said.
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