Frequently asked questions on epilepsy, pregnancy and lactation: A EURAP-NL report

Purpose: To describe the questions addressed by participants and physicians to the International Registry of Antiepileptic Drugs and Pregnancy centre in the Netherlands (EURAP-NL). Methods: All incoming questions during the study period were systematically inventoried. Characteristics of the inquirer, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) indicated, question topic, indication for which AEDs were (to be) prescribed, and timing of the question relative to pregnancy were evaluated. Results: Healthcare professionals posed the majority of questions. Lamotrigine, levetiracetam, valproate and carbamazepine were the drugs most frequently referred to. Common reasons to contact EURAP-NL were congenital malformation risks associated with specific AEDs, requests for information updates when available guidelines were considered lacking, and concerns regarding breastfeeding while using AEDs. Conclusions: There is an evident demand for additional information regarding AEDs and pregnancy. Pregnancy registries like EURAP can be a useful tool to identify information deficits and may serve as an information source for the development of guidelines to facilitate common practice among healthcare professionals. (c) 2012 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.