Fetal Exposure to Valproate Increases Risk for Language Deficits

Prenatal exposure to valproate was associated with clinically and statistically significant language impairment in school-age children, and higher first trimester doses correlated with lower language scores.

Prenatal exposure to some antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is associated with birth defects and, in some cases, with reduced intellectual abilities. In an observational study, researchers assessed language skills in 102 AED-exposed children at ages 6 to 8 years in Australia. The Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF-4) was used to assess word knowledge, sentence construction skills, and ability to follow instructions and repeat sentences. Children with birth defects or epilepsy were excluded.

AED-exposed children were prenatally exposed to the following drugs: valproate (23 children), carbamazepine (34), lamotrigine (9), topiramate (1), and gabapentin (1); 34 children received therapy with more than one drug. Mean CELF-4 core language…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics