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Studies on long‐lasting consequences of prenatal exposure to anticonvulsant drugs
Author(s) -
Dessens AB,
Boer K,
Koppe JG,
Poll NE,
CohenKettenis PT
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1994.tb13385.x
Subject(s) - medicine , neonatology , anticonvulsant , anticonvulsant drugs , pregnancy , pediatrics , teratology , animal studies , prenatal exposure , fetus , obstetrics , epilepsy , psychiatry , gestation , endocrinology , genetics , biology
Based on neonatal examination at birth, it has been estimated that epileptic women have a 2–3 times greater risk of giving birth to an infant with congenital anomalies. But anticonvulsant drugs may also have more subtle influences on the developing foetus which are not visible at birth but only emerge later in life. Evidence for these functional teratogenic influences has been provided by animal research and follow‐up studies in young children. This article discusses these findings in human and animal studies. In addition, the outline of a study carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Neonatology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, is described. In this study cognitive functioning, fertility and gender role behaviour of young adults, who had been prenatally exposed to barbiturates and/or hydantoins was examined.