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Valproate and Spina Bifida BMJ 298:1300-1301, Oakeshott,P.&Hunt,G.M., 1989 See this aricle in Pubmed Article Abstract In 1983 it was shown that when a pregnant woman takes the antiepileptic drug sodium valproate(Epilim)during the first trimester she has a 1-2%risk of having a child with spina bifida.This risk becomes more evident with the decline in the overall prevalence of spina bifida.It may be prevented by avoiding the drug during pregnancy or by informed counselling followed by antenatal screening for spina bifida with high resolution ultrasonography,amniocentesis,and abortion of affected fetuses.In Britain few general practitioners seem to be aware of the risk of spina bifida and the special need for screening pregnant women taking valproate.We report three cases of spina bifida in children born to women taking valproate as monotherapy who were unaware of the risk and were not offered prenatal diagnosis.All the children are currently receiving care.

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(click to filter results - removes previous filter) anticonvulsants,teratogenicity of anticonvulsants,untoward effects of congenital birth defects sodium valproate sodium valproate,toxicity spina bifida teratogenesis teratogenic drugs

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