[ newborns from epileptic women about 13 cases]

ABSTRACT

We report a study of 13 pregnant women with epilepsy over a 5-year period The mean age was 28 years [Range20-36 years].Eight women had grand mal seizures [generalized tonic-clonic seizures]. All women were receiving anticonvulsivant therapy before pregnancy, whose 08 under monotherapy and 05 under bitherapy. Phenobarbital is largely the must used for 10 women. During pregnancy, an increase in seizure frequency was noticed in 07 cases and antiepileptic doses were increased to the clinic in 05 cases and 02 patients required the association of other anticonvulsivants. Thirty babies were born at term of which 03 by forceps and 02 by caesarean section. There where no cases of neonatal hemorrhage or per natal death. Symptoms of drug impregnation were found in 04 cases. pregnancy doesn't have a catastrophic effect on the course of epilepsy apart from the risk of an increase in the frequency of the fits. This risk must be reduced thanks to an optimal use of an anticonvulsive therapy before and during pregnancy