Dose dependence of fetal malformations associated with valproate

Abstract

Objective: To study the relationships between maternal valproate dose in pregnancy and the pattern of various fetal malformations. Methods: Analysis of data in the Australian Register of Antiepileptic Drugs in Pregnancy collected from 1999 to 2012. The specific type of fetal malformation in offspring exposed to valproate in utero was correlated with the dose of valproate taken by the mother in the first trimester. Results: Compared with other malformations, the mean dose of valproate taken during the first trimester was higher in mothers whose offspring had spina bifida (2,000 ± 707 vs 1,257 ± 918 mg/d) and hypospadias (2,417 ± 1,320 vs 1,235 ± 715 mg/d) (both p < 0.05). The overall mean mat..