Table 5

Recent prospective studies of children exposed to anticonvulsants in utero

Reference Anticonvulsant exposure Developmental delay Dysmorphic features Major malformations
11 Carbamazepine alone5/25 (20%)4/35 (11%)3/35 (9%)
Carbamazepine and another drug8/35 (23%)18/48 (38%)5/48 (11%)
27 All anticonvulsants (40/60 phenytoin)1/60 (2%)5-150
18 All anticonvulsants21/303 (7%)
24 All anticonvulsants42/315 (13%)27/318 (8.5%)5-151
8 Phenytoin alone7/34 (20%)2/34 (6%)
Carbamazepine alone3/36 (8%)2/36 (5%)
25 Not specified9/51 (18%)
26 Carbamazepine alone5/41 (12%)6/47 (11%)5/47 (11%)
12 Carbamazepine alone26/33 (79%)2/35 (5.7%)
Phenytoin alone26/33 (79%)3/34 (8.8%)
34 All anticonvulsants9%
Primidone14.3%
Valproate11.1%
Phenytoin9.1%
Carbamazepine5.7%
Phenobarbitone5.1%

  • ↵5-150 One patient with Down syndrome excluded.

  • ↵5-151 Two patients diagnosed with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome excluded.