Clinical characteristics and fetal outcomes in women with epilepsy with
planned and unplanned pregnancy: a retrospective study
Abstract
Objective: To compare the antiepileptic drug (AED) patterns, seizure
control, and folic acid supplementation between planned and unplanned
pregnancy in women with epilepsy (WWE), and investigate the effects of
planned pregnancy on fetal outcomes. Design: Retrospective study.
Setting: A prospectively collected database from Feb 2010 to Dec 2018 in
Xijing Hospital. Populations: Pregnant WWE. Main Outcome Measures:
Clinical characteristics and fetal outcomes. Results: 477 pregnancies
were enrolled: 188 planned pregnancies (39.4%) and 289 unplanned
pregnancies (60.6%). The education level of the unplanned group was
lower than that of the planned group (P < 0.001). Among the
planned group, 66.0% took AED monotherapy, and 32.4% received
polytherapy. In the unplanned group, 58.1% did not take AEDs, 28.0%
took monotherapy, and 12.8% received polytherapy. Compared with the
unplanned group, The planned group had less generalized tonic-clonic
seizures (2 [1-4] vs. 1 [1-2]; P = 0.002) and a higher
proportion of being seizure-free (41.0% vs. 22.8%; P <
0.001). All planned pregnancies took folic acid while 39.8% of
unplanned pregnancies never took it (P < 0.001). The planned
group showed significantly less adverse fetal outcomes than the
unplanned group: induced abortions (2.7% vs. 13.5%; P <
0.001), preterm births (3.3% vs. 20.4%; P < 0.001), and
major congenital malformations within one year of delivery (1.6% vs.
7.5%; P = 0.016). Regression analysis demonstrated that pregnancy
planning was independently associated with adverse fetal outcomes
(adjusted odds ratio, 0.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.27; P
< 0.001). Conclusions: Planned-pregnancy could benefit both
WWE and their offspring.