Maternal And Perinatal Outcome In Pregnancy With Epilepsy

Background: Epilepsy is the second most common neurological disorder in obstetrics after migraine. There are conflicting reports about the effect of epilepsy on pregnancy. Aims: To study the maternal and perinatal outcome in pregnant women with epilepsy and also the effect of pregnancy on epilepsy Material and methods: In a retrospective case-control study, women with epilepsy who delivered at our hospital in the last 5 years were age and parity matched with at least three women without epilepsy as control for each subject. Maternal and fetal outcomes were compared. Statistical analysis: Comparisons were made using student's T test and chi-square test using statistical package SPSS for windows. Results: Thirty-seven (0.2%) women with epilepsy out of 15682 women who delivered in the last 5 years and 137 controls were included in the analysis. The mean age was 25.2 ± 4.6 years in the study group and 25.2 ± 3.2 years in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in the pregnancy related complications such as pregnancy induced hypertension(PIH), eclampsia, abruptio placentae, placenta previa, anaemia and gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM) in both the groups. Mean period of gestation (37.0 vs 37.7 weeks) was similar in both the groups. Rate of caesarian section was also similar in both the groups. Prematurity was observed in 21.6% cases and 17.6% in controls (p = 0.58). Fetal outcomes (APGARS score, birth weight,still births, neonatal death and congenital malformation) were also similar in the two groups. Seventy percent of the patient in study group were on monotherapy. Fourteen patients had seizure during pregnancy, but there were no maternal complications. Conclusion: Though significant proporation of the epileptic patients had seizures during pregnancy, the maternal and foetal outcome was similar in both the groups.