Researchers from University of Tartu Discuss Findings in Epilepsy (Pre-pregnancy Counseling for Women With Epilepsy: Can We Do Better?): Central Nervous System Diseases and Conditions – Epilepsy

2021 DEC 20 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Researchers detail new data in Central Nervous System Diseases and Conditions - Epilepsy. According to news reporting out of Tartu, Estonia, by NewsRx editors, research stated, “For many women with epilepsy (WWE), decision making about pregnancy is difficult, due mainly to the potential teratogenic risks of anti-seizure medications (ASMs). Pre-pregnancy counseling is essential to minimize these risks.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the University of Tartu, “This study was conducted to assess the rate and effectiveness of pre-pregnancy counseling for women treated with valproate (VPA) in Estonia. We used outpatient prescription data from the national health insurance provider to identify all women treated with VPA during 2011-2018 in Estonia. The personal medical documentation of women who became pregnant while on VPA treatment was reviewed. Pre-pregnancy counseling history and VPA-treatment indications were analyzed. Data from 141 women who became pregnant while on VPA treatment during 2011-2018 time period were analyzed. Of these patients, 77% had epilepsy and 19% psychiatric diagnoses. Pre-pregnancy counseling was recorded for 13% (n = 19) of women who later became pregnant. VPA monotherapy and the lack of VPA treatment indication were associated with the lack of counseling before pregnancy. This study revealed a significant deficit in pre-pregnancy counseling for WWE treated with VPA in Estonia.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Awareness of the need for such counseling should be increased among medical specialists.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Pre-pregnancy Counseling for Women With Epilepsy: Can We Do Better? Epilepsy & Behavior, 2021;125:108404. Epilepsy & Behavior can be contacted at: Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science, 525 B St, Ste 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, USA. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Epilepsy & Behavior - http://www.journals.elsevier.com/epilepsy-and-behavior/)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Aleksei Rakitin, University of Tartu, Dept. of Neurology and Neurosurgery, L Puusepp St 8H, Tartu, Estonia. Additional authors for this research include Sulev Haldre, Katrin Kurvits, Ott Laius and Maia Uuskula.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108404. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)