Predicting Seizure Risk in Pregnancy
- Ngawai
- Mar 11
- 1 min read
We are pleased to share our latest publication in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology:
Epilepsy is the third leading cause of indirect maternal deaths in the UK, yet predicting seizure risk during pregnancy remains a challenge. Poor seizure control can lead to serious complications for both mother and baby, but current guidelines vary in their recommendations.
The EpiSafe study reviewed existing clinical guidelines and systematic reviews to identify 26 key risk factors that can help improve risk assessment and guide care for pregnant women with epilepsy.
Some important findings
🔹 Seizure history matters because women who had tonic-clonic seizures in the three months before pregnancy were seven times more likely to have seizures during pregnancy. A history of seizures in the year before pregnancy also increased seizure risk significantly.
🔹 Seizure type and control are important because those with non-tonic-clonic seizures also faced higher seizure risk. Being seizure-free for at least 9-12 months before pregnancy reduced the risk of seizures.
🔹 Medication plays an important role as poor adherence to medication increased the risk of seizures. Women on multiple medications were at higher risk of continued seizures.
Gaps in care and research
Current guidelines differ in how they assess seizure risk but ethnicity and socioeconomic factors are rarely considered and may impact epilepsy outcomes. We also need more consistent and evidence-based risk assessment tools for pregnant women with epilepsy alongside better awareness among healthcare professionals about seizure risk factors.
Check out the paper here: https://www.ejog.org/article/S0301-2115(25)00160-5/fulltext
