RESEARCH ARTICLE |
|
Year : 2019 | Volume
: 51
| Issue : 2 | Page : 93-97 |
Change in antiepileptic drug prescription patterns for pregnant women with epilepsy over the years: Impact on pregnancy and fetal outcomes
Ramandeep Bansal1, Vanita Suri1, Seema Chopra1, Neelam Aggarwal1, Pooja Sikka1, Subhas Chandra Saha1, Parampreet Singh Kharbanda2, Praveen Kumar3
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India 2 Department of Neurology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India 3 Department of Paediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Ramandeep Bansal Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh - 160 012 India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijp.IJP_78_19
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were: (1) to determine if there is a change in pattern of antiepileptic drug (AED) prescription during pregnancy in women with epilepsy (WWE) attending a tertiary care institute in North India and (2) to determine if change in AED prescription pattern has resulted in improved fetal and maternal outcomes in WWE.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: The current study was a retrospective analysis of records of WWE attending a medical and surgical disorder clinic of obstetrics and gynecology department of a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India. We retrospectively collected data of all the patients during the 5-year period from 2011 to 2015 (Group A) (n = 177) and compared it with our previously published data during the years 1987–1994 (Group B) (n = 219).
RESULTS: There was significantly higher use of (i) levetiracetam (LEV) in Group A compared to Group B when women on monotherapy were compared (P<0.0001) and (ii) LEV (P<0.0001), clobazam (P<0.0001) and lamotrigine (P=0.0004) in Group A compared to Group B when women on polytherapy were compared. A significantly higher (P=0.02) number of women were using more than two antiepileptic drugs simultaneously in Group A compared to Group B. There was a significantly higher incidence (P = 0.001) of small for gestational age babies in Group A.
CONCLUSION: Although there is an increase in the use of newer AEDs in WWE during pregnancy in North Indian population, it has not resulted in improved maternal and fetal outcomes. (2) to determine if change in AED prescription pattern has resulted in improved fetal and maternal outcomes in WWE.
[FULL TEXT] [PDF]*
|