Neurodevelopment of children exposed in utero to lamotrigine, sodium valproate and carbamazepine

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood 2011-07, Vol.96 (7), p.643-647
• Main Authors: Cummings, Cliona, Stewart, Moira, Stevenson, Mike, Morrow, Jim, Nelson, Joanne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Anticonvulsants - adverse effects; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Carbamazepine; Carbamazepine - adverse effects; Carbamazepine - therapeutic use; Case-Control Studies; Causes of; Child Health; Child psychopathology; Child, Preschool; Childhood mental disorders; Children & youth; Comparative analysis; Compliance; Complications and side effects; Control Groups; Data Analysis; Developmental Disabilities - chemically induced; Divalproex; Educational attainment; Educational Needs; Epilepsy; Epilepsy - drug therapy; Female; General aspects; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Lamotrigine; Male; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Mothers; Observational studies; Parent educational background; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - drug therapy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - psychology; Prevention and actions; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Sodium; Triazines - adverse effects; Triazines - therapeutic use; Valproic acid; Valproic Acid - adverse effects; Valproic Acid - therapeutic use; Vitamin B; Womens health; Young Children
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.2009.176990

Objective To establish the relative risks of in utero exposure to lamotrigine (LTG), sodium valproate (NaV) and carbamazepine (CBZ) monotherapy for neurodevelopment. Design Observational cohort study. Patients and methods The study group consisted of children in Northern Ireland aged 9–60 months born to mothers who had enrolled with the UK Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register. The control group consisted of children identified from the Child Health System database across Northern Ireland. Data were gathered on covariates recognised as influencing child development. Main outcome measures Neurodevelopment assessed using either the Bayley Scales of Infant Development or the Griffiths Mental Development Scales. Results 210 children underwent assessment by a single researcher blinded to antiepileptic drug exposure. 23 (39.6%) children exposed in utero to NaV, 10 (20.4%) exposed to CBZ and one (2.9%) exposed to LTG had evidence of mild or significant developmental delay, compared to two (4.5%) children in the control group. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that in utero exposure to NaV (OR 26.1, 95% CI 4.9 to 139; p