The profile of The collateral effects of

antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy: a systematic review

Monique Leite Sampaio1*, Tainã Brito Siebra de Oliveira1,

Modesto Leite Rolim Neto1                                                                                            

abstract

The present study was based on the following critical question: What are the current trends in the prescription of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy,  taking into account  the adverse  effects presented by these drugs? A qualitative systematic review of articles about the antiepileptic  and its adverse  effects in pregnant women published in an electronic database  previously chosen was performed. The literature search  was conducted through Scopus online database in July 2014 and was limited to articles published between January 1, 2012 to July 22, 2014. The methods used to identify, select, evaluate and collect data from the analyzed studies were in accordance  with the PRISMA Protocol for reviews and systematic meta-analyzes. According  to The Cochrane Collaboration has published  the PRISMA guidelines, medical  research on the model  of systematic reviews, which should be performed based on information that compose  the acronym  “PICOS”  (patient, intervention, comparison, outcome, study design). In this article, ‘P’ is ‘pregnant’ or ‘children exposed ‘,’I’ as ‘drugs, planning’,

‘C’ variable in comparing the ‘P’ and ‘I’, ‘O’ ‘effects of drugs’, ‘S’ is exploratory field research and prospective

/ retrospective cohorts. Antiepileptic therapy is generally maintained during pregnancy due to the potential harm associated  with the tonic-clonic convulsion. With careful planning of pregnancy and management of parturition a normal denouement is expected. It has been documented that pregnant women, including those with epilepsy, needs  information about the teratogenic  risk of drugs. Widnes et al demonstrates that pregnant women  with epilepsy accepted  the teratogenic risks of the DAE to achieve the therapeutic objectives during pregnancy.

Keywords: Antiepileptic Drugs. Pregnancy. Collateral Effects.