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The impact of maternal epilepsy on delivery and neonatal outcomes

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Abstract

Purpose

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that may complicate reproductive health. Our aim in this study was to provide prospective ascertainment of obstetric and neonatal outcomes in women with epilepsy and investigate whether the risk of pregnancy, delivery, and neonatal complications differed between women with epilepsy and women without epilepsy.

Methods

Pregnant women with epilepsy and women without epilepsy (control group) were prospectively evaluated during the years 2013–2018. They were regularly followed by a neurologist and obstetrician until the end of pregnancy.

Results

Delivery and perinatal outcomes were compared between 112 women diagnosed with epilepsy and 277 women without epilepsy. Epilepsy was a significant risk factor for preterm delivery, cesarean section, fetal hypoxia, and Apgar score ≤ 7 at 5 min in offspring (odds ratio (OR) = 2.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–7.76; OR = 5.61, 95% CI 3.44–9.14; OR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.08–3.04; OR = 8.12, 95% CI 4.04–16.35, respectively). Seizures during pregnancy had influence on the preference of cesarean section as a mode of delivery (ОR = 3.39; 95% CI 1.40–8.17). The rate of perinatal hypoxia was significantly higher in children born by cesarean section (ОR = 2.84; 95% CI 1.04–7.76). There was no significant difference between women with epilepsy and controls in malformation rate.

Conclusions

Women with epilepsy had an increased risk of pregnancy and delivery complications. Cesarean section was associated with an increased risk of complications in offspring.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Azerbaijan Medical University, Mardanov Qardashlari, 100, AZ 1078, Baku, Azerbaijan

    Shahla Melikova & Sharif Magalov

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology II, Azerbaijan Medical University, Mirgasimov, 1004, Baku, Azerbaijan

    Hijran Bagirova

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  1. Shahla Melikova
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  2. Hijran Bagirova
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  3. Sharif Magalov
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Correspondence to Shahla Melikova.

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All procedures performed in the study involving human participants were in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Melikova, S., Bagirova, H. & Magalov, S. The impact of maternal epilepsy on delivery and neonatal outcomes. Childs Nerv Syst 36, 775–782 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-019-04435-2

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