A Review of Awareness of Pregnancy-Related Issues Among Reproductive-Aged Croatian Women with Epilepsy

Pregnancy-related epilepsy issues (PREIs) are crucial in managing women with epilepsy (WWE). The main PREIs are reduced compliance and self-discontinuation of antiseizure medications (ASMs), pharmacokinetic alterations during pregnancy, and the teratogenic potential of particular ASMs. According to a recent study, knowledge of PREIs among reproductive-aged WWE in Croatia is unsatisfactory, as are neurologist consultations about PREIs. Two hundred WWE were polled on their knowledge, sources, and needs for information about PREIs and their current ASMs usage. Prior consultation with a neurologist and increased use of books/brochures were the main predictors of knowledge. Forty-five percent of participants had a prior neurologist consultation on PREIs. Most women (61 %) chose their neurologist as their favourite future source of information, and 13 % favoured Internet. The most usually prescribed ASM was levetiracetam (34.5 %). Valproate was utilized by 26 % of respondents, among which 59 % claimed no prior PREIs consultation with a neurologist. A new campaign called Epilepsy and Pregnancy was launched by the International Bureau for Epilepsy in 2021. In February 2021, a poll of nearly 900 women was conducted across Europe as the first stage in this significant project, including 94 respondents from Croatia. Forty-two percent of Croatian WWE were given no information on pregnancy-related risks. In contrast with the aforementioned study, neurologists provided 82 percent of information about the risks of ASMs. Seventy percent reported they were not given contraception information. Providing clear, accurate and timely information on PREIs should become the norm for all neurologists caring for WWE.