The risks of seizures and antiepileptic drug (AED) teratogenicity must be balanced when treating pregnant women with epilepsy. Two recent articles address these risks for newer AEDs. Lamotrigine and levetiracetam carried low risks of malformations, and topiramate exhibited a dose-dependent risk. Levetiracetam controlled seizures more effectively than lamotrigine and topiramate.
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Acknowledgements
K.J.M. presently receives research funding from the NIH NINDS 2RO1-NS38455-12 and 3 U01 NS038455-13S1 (Multi-Principal Investigator), PCORI 527 (Co-Principal Investigator), and NIH NINDS 1 R01 NS076665 (consultant).
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In the past 10 years, the author has received research funding from Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, Marius, Myriad, NeuroPace, Pfizer, SAM Technology, Schwartz Biosciences (UCB Pharma), and UCB Pharma. He serves as a consultant for the Epilepsy Study Consortium, which receives monies from multiple pharmaceutical companies. He has consulted on behalf of the Epilepsy Study Consortium for the following companies: Eisai, GW Pharmaceuticals, NeuroPace, Supernus, UCB Pharma, Upsher Smith Laboratories and Vivus Pharmaceuticals. Note that the Epilepsy Study Consortium pays the author's university for his consulting time.
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Meador, K. Pregnancy in women with epilepsy—risks and management. Nat Rev Neurol 10, 614–616 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2014.179
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2014.179
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