Risk of major congenital malformations in the offsprings of women with epilepsy is not related to family history

We aimed to ascertain whether family history of major congenital malformations (MCMs) was increased in women with epilepsy (WWE) compared to controls (spouses) and whether family history of MCM was associated with occurrence of MCM in the offspring.

Patients and methods

Women enrolled in the Kerala Registry of Epilepsy and Pregnancy were probands of this study. The control group comprised of unaffected spouses and their families. We interviewed the probands and spouses to construct detailed pedigree charts with information on MCM. All live born infants of WWE underwent clinical examination, echocardiography and ultrasonography.

Results

Data were collected for 11,777 family members of probands (n=573) and 10,832 family members of controls (n=550). Family history of MCM was positive for 84 probands (0.71%) and 64 controls (0.59%). Corresponding figures for first degree relatives were 32 out of 2717 for probands (1.18%) and 27 out of 2992 for controls (0.90%). Among the second degree relatives 52 out of 9060 for probands (0.71%) and 64 out of 10,832 for the controls (0.50%) had history of MCM. These differences were not statistically significant (p value=0.29, 0.37 and 0.42, respectively). There was no significant difference in the frequency of MCM between probands with generalized epilepsy and localization related epilepsy. Out of the 426 live born infants of the probands, 44 had MCM; two with family history and 42 without family history (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.19–3.26).

Conclusions

WWE of Asian Indian origin have no familial tendency for MCM and the offsprings with family history have no increased risk of MCM.