Abstract

Background: Incidence of seizure disorder in women attending antenatal clinics is estimated to be 0.3-0.5% of all births. These pregnancies are a challenge to patient and clinician alike, the double burden of seizures and the antiepileptic drugs [AED] exposure are responsible for the poorer outcome of infants born to mothers with epilepsy.

Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted in the antenatal outpatient clinic, antenatal wards and labour room of a tertiary care hospital over a period of one year. All pregnant women with pre-existing or recently diagnosed epilepsy after 20 completed weeks of gestation, a total of 126 patients were recruited. All patient details were collected using a structured questionnaire after getting their consent. Data were analysed using SPSS version 17.0 to obtain Chi square test and p value. The significance of the findings were interpreted.

Result: 126 pregnant WWE were studied over a period of one year. Among women on AED 51.7% had seizures and 46% had statistically significant increase in frequency of seizures while women not on AED had 23% seizure and 20.6% had increased frequency of seizures during pregnancy. IUGR was statistically significant in AED group. Emergency CS 25.6% was statistically significant in AED group as compared to 10.3% among non- AED group, which could be due to higher induction rates among AED group.

Conclusion: Risk of maternal and fetal complications can be reduced with effective preconceptional planning, careful management during antenatal and post partum period.

Keywords: WWE women with epilepsy, AED anti epileptic drugs.