Epilepsy in pregnancy
- Specialty
- Obstetrics · Pregnancy disorders
- Last updated
- 10/2026 · Dr. Pascal Bafteh
Contents
Definition
- Epilepsy in pregnancy denotes pre-existing epilepsy, or epilepsy manifesting during pregnancy, in a pregnant woman.
Occurrence & epidemiology
Epidemiology
- Seizure disorders are the most frequent major neurological complication in pregnancy, affecting 0.3–0.8% of all pregnancies.
Aetiopathogenesis
Aetiology and pathogenesis
- In an analysis of 2,165 pregnancies, seizure frequency was unchanged in 53.2%, increased in 24.1% and decreased in 22.7%.
- Worsening is promoted by irregular intake, increased clearance of antiseizure agents with falling plasma levels, and hormonal influences (oestrogens are pro-epileptogenic, progesterone anti-epileptogenic).
- Valproate carries a particular risk of malformations and cognitive or behavioural impairment.
Clinical features
Clinical features and complications
- Uncontrolled seizures are regarded as more harmful in pregnancy than exposure to antiseizure agents; most pregnancies are uneventful.
- The risk of pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction and stillbirth is slightly increased.
- Congenital malformations are more frequent in children of women with seizure disorders (6–8% versus 2–3% in the general population); these risks relate both to the disorder and to antiseizure agents.
Keep learning in the app
Further reading (selection)
Cross-references
Note: Learning content from the GynFuchs app (flashcards, exam questions, image cases) for medical education – not a treatment recommendation and no substitute for diagnosis or treatment decisions in individual cases. Treatment and management are deliberately not covered on this page.