ABSTRACT
The complications may be maternal or fetal. Maternal complications are either related to the condition itself or to the AEDs. Those in the former category include an increased in seizure rate (reported in a third of women during pregnancy) and the risk of status epilepticus (this risk is not increased in pregnancy). Immediately after delivery, the risk of tonic-clonic seizures is increased. Complications related to AEDs depend on the type of drugs but in general are NTDs (1-3 per cent with sodium valproate (Epilim®)), facial clefting, fetal AED syndrome (a combination of malformations) and coagulopathies in the neonates (approximately 50 per cent of neonates whose mothers are on phenobarbitone, primidone or phenytoin). The fetuses
are at an increased risk of asphyxia if fits are poorly controlled and their risk of developing seizures is also increased.
