Dina Battino

TL;DR: The risk of major congenital malformations is influenced not only by type of antiepileptic drug, but also by dose and other variables, which should be taken into account in the management of epilepsy in women of childbearing potential.

TL;DR: The results indicate that the increased incidence of congenital malformations was caused primarily by AEDs, suggesting that mal Formations can be prevented by improvements in drug regimen, and by avoiding polypharmacy and high levels of VPA in the treatment of epileptic women of childbearimg age.

TL;DR: Risks of major congenital malformation associated with lamotrigine, levetiracetam, and oxcarbazepine were within the range reported in the literature for offspring unexposed to antiepileptic drugs, and rational selection of these drugs is facilitated.

TL;DR: Although routine monitoring of the newer antiepileptic drugs cannot be recommended at present, measurements of some of the drugs is undoubtedly of help with individualization of treatment in selected cases in a particular clinical setting.

TL;DR: The majority of patients with epilepsy maintain seizure control during pregnancy, and the apparently higher risk of seizures among women treated with ox carbazepine and the more frequent increases in drug load in the oxcarbazepines and lamotrigine cohorts prompts further studies on relationships with pharmacokinetic changes.