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THURSDAY, Oct. 29, 2020 (HealthDay News)<\/p>\n
Maternal use of valproic acid<\/a>, but not lamotrigine<\/a>, is associated with an increased risk for autism spectrum disorder<\/a> (ASD<\/a>) and attention-deficit\/hyperactivity<\/a> disorder (ADHD<\/a>) among children, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in Neurology<\/em>.<\/p>\n Kelsey K. Wiggs, from Indiana University in Bloomington, and colleagues used Swedish-registry data to examine the risks for ASD<\/a> and ADHD<\/a> in 14,614 children born from 1996 to 2011 to women with epilepsy<\/a>. Maternal-reported first-trimester use of any antiseizure medications and the three most commonly reported individual drugs<\/a> (valproic acid<\/a>, lamotrigine<\/a>, and carbamazepine<\/a>) were examined.<\/p>\n The researchers found that after adjustment for confounding, valproic acid use was associated with ASD and ADHD<\/a> (hazard ratios, 2.30 [95 percent confidence interval, 1.53 to 3.47] and 1.74 [95 percent confidence interval, 1.28 to 2.38], respectively). A small, non-statistically significant association with ASD and ADHD<\/a> was seen for reported use of carbamazepine<\/a> (hazard ratios, 1.25 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.88 to 1.79] and 1.18 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.91 to 1.52], respectively), but all of the associations with lamotrigine were explained by confounding (hazard ratio for ASD, 0.86 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.67 to 1.53]; hazard ratio for ADHD<\/a>, 1.01 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.67 to 1.53]).<\/p>\n “Our findings suggest that women who use antiseizure medications, particularly valproic acid, should weigh potential harm to the fetus, as well as ongoing seizure<\/a> management, in their decision-making with their doctors if they are considering becoming pregnant<\/a>,” a coauthor said in a statement.<\/p>\n One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n Physician’s Briefing Staff<\/p>\n ![\"MedicalNews\"](\"https:\/\/images.medicinenet.com\/images\/HealthDay\/healthday.png\")
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