Levetiracetam, lamotrigine and carbamazepine: which monotherapy during pregnancy?

Seizure control and adverse outcomes of lamotrigine use during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to summarize existing evidence on the adverse pregnancy outcomes and seizure control effects of using lamotrigine (LTG) monotherapy in pregnancy women with epilepsy (WWE) during pregnancy.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted in various databases including Cochrane, Web of Science, CBM, PubMed, Embase, CNKI, and Pregnancy Registration Center databases to identify relevant studies. The search was concluded up to January 2024. Studies comparing LTG with other antiseizure medications (ASMs) for treating epilepsy in pregnant women were included, with no language or regional restrictions.

RESULTS

A total of 19 studies were included for analysis, with 16 studies reporting adverse pregnancy outcomes and 6 studies reporting seizure control outcomes. Meta-analysis showed that compared to monotherapy with carbamazepine (CBZ), sodium valproate (VPA), and levetiracetam (LEV), LTG monotherapy had a slightly weaker ability to control seizures during pregnancy, with ORs and 95 %CIs of 0.65 (0.57-0.75; CBZ), 0.50 (0.32-0.79; VPA), and 0.55 (0.36-0.84; LEV). Regarding adverse pregnancy outcomes, the occurrence rate of LTG monotherapy was significantly lower than that of CBZ, VPA, phenytoin (PHT), and phenobarbital (PHB), with ORs and 95 %CIs ranging from 0.30 (0.25-0.35; VPA) to 0.68 (0.56-0.81; CBZ).

CONCLUSION

Based on meta-analysis, LTG and LEV appear to be preferred medications for controlling seizures during pregnancy. This review provides further support for the use of LTG monotherapy in pregnant WWE, building upon existing evidence for clinical practitioners.

Navigating the Complexity of a Bipolar Pregnant Patient With Multiple Comorbidities

Bipolar disorder I (BDI) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by the occurrence of at least one manic episode. Within the scope of neurological disorders, epilepsy and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) share clinical features and can be differentiated using electroencephalogram (EEG). Substance use disorder is a condition defined by impaired control, risky use, social impairment, and addictive behaviors. We present the case of a 20-year-old pregnant woman with BDI associated with a history of epilepsy, PNES, and polyvalent substance use. The patient presented to the emergency department via the Baker Act involuntary hold multiple times throughout her pregnancy. Recognizing that the welfare of the mother and child was at risk, the court ordered a two-month commitment of inpatient psychiatric treatment at 30 weeks' gestation to ensure safe delivery. Comprehensive inpatient treatment, including risperidone, levetiracetam, lacosamide, haloperidol, diphenhydramine, lorazepam, and later clozapine, and a discharge plan for both the mother and the child are described in detail. Our goal is to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the management of complex pregnant patients with psychiatric conditions in order to optimize outcomes for maternal and fetal health.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder: A Review

Importance

Bipolar disorder affects approximately 8 million adults in the US and approximately 40 million individuals worldwide.

Observations

Bipolar disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of depression and mania or hypomania. Bipolar depressive episodes are similar to major depressive episodes. Manic and hypomanic episodes are characterized by a distinct change in mood and behavior during discrete time periods. The age of onset is usually between 15 and 25 years, and depression is the most frequent initial presentation. Approximately 75% of symptomatic time consists of depressive episodes or symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment are associated with a more favorable prognosis. Diagnosis and optimal treatment are often delayed by a mean of approximately 9 years following an initial depressive episode. Long-term treatment consists of mood stabilizers, such as lithium, valproate, and lamotrigine. Antipsychotic agents, such as quetiapine, aripiprazole, asenapine, lurasidone, and cariprazine, are recommended, but some are associated with weight gain. Antidepressants are not recommended as monotherapy. More than 50% of patients with bipolar disorder are not adherent to treatment. Life expectancy is reduced by approximately 12 to 14 years in people with bipolar disorder, with a 1.6-fold to 2-fold increase in cardiovascular mortality occurring a mean of 17 years earlier compared with the general population. Prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome (37%), obesity (21%), cigarette smoking (45%), and type 2 diabetes (14%) are higher among people with bipolar disorder, contributing to the risk of early mortality. The annual suicide rate is approximately 0.9% among individuals with bipolar disorder, compared with 0.014% in the general population. Approximately 15% to 20% of people with bipolar disorder die by suicide.

Conclusions and Relevance

Bipolar disorder affects approximately 8 million adults in the US. First-line therapy includes mood stabilizers, such as lithium, anticonvulsants, such as valproate and lamotrigine, and atypical antipsychotic drugs, such as quetiapine, aripiprazole, asenapine, lurasidone, and cariprazine.

Managing Antiseizure Medications in Pregnancy: Is Earlier and More Frequent Monitoring Better?

Background and Objective

Medication management in pregnant women with epilepsy (PWWE) poses challenges, and understanding the effects of metabolic changes on antiseizure medications (ASMs) is important in planning care for PWWE. The possible teratogenic effects and risks of poorly controlled seizures have to be weighed. There are data in the literature on clinical management of ASMs including the effects of drug levels on seizures and factors that predict seizure frequency, but timing and frequency of monitoring and dose adjustment paradigms have not been well studied.

Methods

This retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Johns Hopkins University. We retrospectively identified adult PWWE evaluated during pregnancy at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center epilepsy clinic, between January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2021. We reviewed charts for information regarding demographics, medical and epilepsy history, medications, serum drug levels, and dosing paradigms. We assessed risk factors for breakthrough seizures with a focus on frequency and timing of laboratory testing. We calculated the dose-normalized concentration (DNC) for analysis with levetiracetam and lamotrigine, assessing changes in DNC over time by half trimesters, and analyzed DNC and effects on seizures in pregnancy. We also compared preemptive vs clinically based lamotrigine dose adjustments in managing epilepsy in pregnancy.

Results

A total of 45 pregnancies in 39 patients were included in this study, 8 generalized, 28 focal epilepsy, and 3 unclassified. 31 PWWE (36 pregnancies) were on lamotrigine and/or levetiracetam, and 14 of these pregnancies experienced breakthrough seizures, 77% in the first trimester. Seizures led to the diagnosis of pregnancy in 5 patients. The DNC for levetiracetam decreased significantly compared with prepregnancy levels by the second half of the first trimester and demonstrated variable but frequently significant or near significant reduction throughout pregnancy. DNC for lamotrigine decreased significantly in the first half of the first trimester and remained significant throughout pregnancy. Age of mother at conception, week of first ASM serum level and number of levels obtained during pregnancy, and epilepsy type were not associated with breakthrough/increase in seizures. The history of drug resistance (p = 0.038) was associated with a higher odds of seizures. In those on lamotrigine, preemptive dose adjustments demonstrated similar results regarding seizure control when compared with clinical-based or laboratory-based dose management (p = 0.531).

Discussion

This study demonstrates that frequency and timing of ASM level monitoring may not affect overall seizure outcomes during pregnancy in those on lamotrigine or levetiracetam. Furthermore, one can consider preemptive dose adjustments or a laboratory-based/clinical-based approach in managing lamotrigine as both seem safe and feasible. However, in those with drug-resistant epilepsy before pregnancy, earlier and closer monitoring is warranted given the risk of seizures early during pregnancy. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.

Pharmacotherapy for Sydenham's chorea: where are we and where do we need to be?

INTRODUCTION

Sydenham's chorea (SC) is the most common cause of acquired chorea in children. The existing literature describes it as a benign, self-remitting condition. However, recent evidence discloses the persistence of long-course neuropsychiatric and cognitive complications in adulthood, which imposes to redefine the concept of 'benignity' of such condition. In addition, therapies are mostly empirical and non-evidence based.

AREAS COVERED

Here, we conducted an electronic exploration of the PubMed database and selected 165 relevant studies directly correlated to SC treatment. Critical data from selected articles were synthesized to provide an update on pharmacotherapy in SC, which basically consists of three pillars: antibiotic, symptomatic and immunomodulant treatments. Moreover, since SC mostly affects females with recurrences occurring in pregnancy (chorea gravidarum), we focused on the management in pregnancy.

EXPERT OPINION

SC is still a major burden in developing countries. The first therapeutic strategy should be the primary prevention of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) infection. Secondary antibiotic prophylaxis should be performed in every SC patient as the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend. Symptomatic or immunomodulant treatments are administered according to clinical judgment. However, a greater effort to understand SC physiopathology is needed, together with larger trials, to outline appropriate therapeutic indications.