Congenital structural anomalies in offspring of women with epilepsy--a population-based cohort study in Finland.

BACKGROUND

Offspring of women with epilepsy may have an increased risk for congenital malformations, probably attributable to maternal antiepileptic medication. We conducted this population-based study to obtain valid and accurate estimates on major congenital malformations in the offspring of women with epilepsy, based on a large and representative patient cohort.

METHODS

We identified all women (n = 6,535) entitled to full reimbursement for antiepileptic medication indicated for epilepsy for the first time between 1985 and 1994 from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland database. A reference cohort (n = 14,704) was identified from the Finnish Population Register Centre. Information on children born between 1993 and 2000 (patient cohort, n = 2,162; reference cohort, n = 5,413) was obtained from the Medical Birth Register. Information on children born with malformation (patient cohort, n = 116; reference cohort, n = 151) was obtained from the Finnish Register of Congenital Malformations.

RESULTS

The prevalence of major malformation was 54/1,000 births among patients with epilepsy and 28/1,000 births among mothers without epilepsy, corresponding to a 2-fold overall risk for malformation in the offspring of women with epilepsy. The risk for spina bifida [odds ratio (OR) = 11.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.34-108] and congenital anomalies of genital organs (OR = 8.38, 95% CI 2.15-47.4) was substantially elevated in the offspring of mothers with epilepsy.

CONCLUSIONS

The absolute excess in the prevalence of major malformations was 26/1,000 births in the offspring of mothers with epilepsy in relation to the offspring of reference mothers. The highest relative risk was observed in spina bifida and congenital anomalies of genital organs. However, these malformations cover only a small proportion of all major malformations.