Peripartum hemorrhage and other obstetric and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with epilepsy: A single-center study

Objective: There are inconsistent results in different studies on maternal and fetal complications of pregnant women with epilepsy (PWWE). The differences may be in part due to racial characteristics. The aim of this study was to investigate if there is an increase in obstetric and neonatal complications, especially postpartum hemorrhage, in pregnant women with epilepsy in the Turkish population. Methods: In a tertiary center, PWWE and the control group were compared in terms of obstetric and neonatal complications as well as postpartum hemorrhage. Among 46,789 deliveries, 154 eligible PWWE were matched 1: 3 with the control group. Results: There was no increase in the possibility of peripartum hemorrhage and blood transfusion in PWWE. However, the probability of cesarean delivery was higher in PWWE (adjusted OR: 3.24 CI: 1.95?5.42, p < 0.001). Moreover, an increase in the possibility of fetal growth restriction, fetal death, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit and lower APGAR scores were found in PWWE. Conclusion: Although the risk of peripartum hemorrhage does not appear to be increased in PWWE, cesarean rates and fetal complications do increase. There is also a need for prospective studies examining long-term neonatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by epilepsy.