Genetic Factors May Influence Valproate Birth Defect Risks
⚠️ Pregnancy-related topic: medication, diet, and testing decisions must be made with your obstetrician and neurology team.
Source: Neurology
Summary
Researchers studied the effects of valproate (VPA), a medication used to treat epilepsy, on pregnant women and their babies. They focused on understanding why some children born to mothers who took VPA during pregnancy have birth defects while others do not. The study involved women from international epilepsy pregnancy registries and genomics groups, examining their genetic information to see how it might influence the risk of birth defects.
The key findings showed that mothers who took VPA had a higher chance of having babies with birth defects compared to those who took other seizure medications. Specifically, the study found that certain genetic variations in mothers could affect how their bodies respond to VPA, potentially leading to a range of birth defects. Researchers identified a network of proteins that interact with these genetic variations, suggesting that disruptions in gene regulation caused by VPA could be a common reason for these defects.
This research is important because it could help develop tests to identify women at risk of having babies with birth defects if they take VPA. Understanding the genetic factors involved may lead to safer treatment options for women with epilepsy who are planning to become pregnant. However, the study has limitations, such as the small number of pregnancies examined, which means more research is needed to confirm these findings and fully understand the risks involved.
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