DYSEMBRYOGENETIC STIGMATA AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN BORN TO EPILEPTIC MOTHERS

To investigate physical development and dysembryogenetic stigmata in children born to epileptic mothers. Materials: 50 patients (main group) are children born to epileptic mothers, and 50 children (control group) who are born to somatically healthy mothers. Study method: clinico-neurological method. Results: For the moment of investigation, no reliable, statistically significant differences in body mass, height, head or chest circumference have been found between the group of children born to epileptic mothers and group of children born to somatically healthy mothers (р > 0.05). In 20 (40%) of examined children the dysembryogenetic stigmata were found. Statistically significant changes in children born to epileptic mothers, and having dysembryogenetic stigmata, were found as compared to children born to somatically healthy mothers. Conclusions. 1) The rate of dysembryogenetic stigmata found in children born to epileptic mothers, who took anti-epileptic drugs (AED) during pregnancy, exceeds by approximately 10-fold the population indices. 2) Physical development of children born to epileptic mothers did not differ from that of children born to somatically healthy mothers. 3) The choice of AED for treatment during pregnancy should take into account the AED relative teratogenic potential (development of congenital abnormalities and effect on further cognitive development), as well as AED efficiency against seizures during pregnancy, depending on the form of epilepsy