Assesment of intellectual function in children born to epileptic mothers on antiepileptic drugs

ObjectivesTo assess the intellectual functioning in children of epileptic mothers who were on antiepileptic drugs prior to and during gestation with in utero exposure. Design Prospective study with a control group.Setting Epilepsy clinic Madras Iinstitute of Neurology (MIN) Chennai which is a tertiary care referral centre. Material and methodsChildren between ages 3-10 yrs born to mothers with epilepsy and who were exposed to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in utero were recruited (n55) from epilepsy clinic madras, Institute of neurology Rajeev Gandhi govt general hospital and compared with a control group of (n55) of children born to mothers not on drugs.Details of age, education, socioeconomic status, ,folic acid intake,duration of antiepileptic drug intake ,seizures types and duration before and during pregnancy,nature of delivery,postnatal events obtained. Control groupChildren born to mothers with no antiepileptic in utero drug exposure are included. Each child was interviewed and history regarding birth, developmental milestones obtained. Detailed neurological examination was done. Electroencephalogram was done. Binet kamat scale was used for IQ assessment in the mother and children . Vineland social maturity scale was used for assessment of social skills in children.ConclusionSignificant neurodevelopmental delay was found in the children of epileptic mothers on sodium valproate monotherapy and polytherapy groups when compared to children not exposed to AEDs in utero.