IQ at 6 years after in utero exposure to antiepileptic drugs: a controlled cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To delineate the risk to child IQ associated with frequently prescribed antiepileptic drugs.

Methods

Children born to women with epilepsy (n = 243) and women without epilepsy (n = 287) were recruited during pregnancy and followed prospectively. Of these, 408 were blindly assessed at 6 years of age. Maternal and child demographics were collected and entered into statistical models.

Results

The adjusted mean IQ was 9.7 points lower (95% confidence interval [CI] -4.9 to -14.6; p < 0.001) for children exposed to high-dose (>800 mg daily) valproate, with a similar significant effect observed for the verbal, nonverbal, and spatial subscales. Children exposed to high-dose valproate had an 8-fold increased need of educational intervention relative to control childre

SUBMITTER: Baker GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4336006 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature