[Control of serum concentration of anticonvulsants in pregnancy]

Nervenarzt. 1991 Dec;62(12):750-3.
[Article in German]

Abstract

In a prospective study we investigated the serum concentrations and frequency of seizures in 38 women with epilepsy in a total of 44 pregnancies. Monthly follow-up examinations were carried out in cooperation with the risk outpatient unit of the Department of Gynecology. Antiepileptic serum concentrations were determined using the technique of fluorescence polarisation. At constant dosage, a decrease in serum concentration occurred in most cases with a maximum at the 5th and 6th month of gestation, regardless of the kind of antiepileptic medication. No changes in seizure frequency have been observed. The treatment of epilepsy during pregnancy should in any case depend on the course of the illness, rather than on laboratory parameters.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anticonvulsants / administration & dosage*
  • Anticonvulsants / pharmacokinetics*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electroencephalography / drug effects
  • Epilepsy / blood*
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy*
  • Evoked Potentials / drug effects
  • Female
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / blood*
  • Pregnancy Complications / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants