The impact and challenges of the 2018 MHRA statement on the use of sodium valproate in women of childbearing age during the first year of implementation, in a UK epilepsy centre

The Awareness and Adherence of the Valproate Pregnancy Prevention Program: A Questionnaire Survey among Healthcare Professionals, Pharmacists, and Patients in Denmark

BACKGROUND

The European Medicine Agency (EMA) provided additional recommendations regarding the use of valproate during pregnancy in 2018 by introducing a pregnancy prevention program (PPP). This study aimed to investigate the adherence and the impact of the PPP and the awareness of valproate teratogenicity among Danish healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients.

METHODS

As part of the EMA initiated multi-country survey, web-based questionnaires were distributed among Danish general practitioners (GPs), medical specialists, pharmacists, and patients.

RESULTS

A total of 90 prescribers, 98 pharmacists, and 103 patients were included in the study. Some 95.0% of the prescribers, 78.6% of the pharmacists, and 81.6% of the patients were aware of the teratogenic risks of valproate. The patient guide (27.8%), the HCP guide (23.3%), direct healthcare professional communication (23.3%), and the warning sign on the outer medication package (23.5%) were the most applied measures from the PPP. A total of 54.4% of the prescribers and 32.7% of the pharmacists informed patients about the importance of effective contraception during the use of valproate.

CONCLUSION

The study showed that in Denmark HCPs and patients are highly aware of the teratogenic effects of valproate. However, adherence to and the impact of the measures included in the PPP were low.

Treatment outcomes in women with idiopathic generalized epilepsy

Objectives

To evaluate the changes in prescription patterns in the treatment of idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) due to updated treatment recommendations and to assess seizure outcomes of valproate compared to other antiseizure medications (ASMs), with emphasis on women with epilepsy (WWE).

Materials and Methods

Records of IGE patients treated at Tampere University Hospital between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2018 were retrospectively inspected. Data were analysed for two subgroups based on age and sex. Seizure control with reference to the efficacy of different ASMs and their combinations was examined for each subgroup.

Results

The study compiled 263 subjects (166 females and 97 males). Of all patients, 72.6% remained seizure free. There was no difference in seizure control between sexes (OR 1.25, p = .48). Males used valproate more often than females while females used lamotrigine and levetiracetam more often than males. Lamotrigine and levetiracetam were used especially as monotherapy in WWE, and mostly as part of combination therapy in males. Valproate alternatives were found as effective as valproate when used in monotherapy in adults. Valproate remained the most used ASM in the paediatric subgroup.

Conclusions

The use of valproate has decreased in daily clinical use with the simultaneous increased use of alternative ASMs compared to our previous study. Decreasing use of valproate in WWE did not increase the risk of seizure recurrence; therefore, valproate alternatives could be considered as first‐line ASMs for WWE. Overall, IGE patients demonstrated good clinical outcomes with valproate or other broad‐spectrum ASMs as monotherapy.

Valproate prescribing practices for women with intellectual disability across Europe

BACKGROUND

Valproate (VPA) is a known teratogen associated with greater risk of major congenital malformations and other neurodevelopmental sequelae than all other licensed antiepileptic medicines. To reduce the potential for VPA-related teratogenicity, the European Medicines Agency issued recommendations in 2018. Over two-thirds of women/girls with intellectual disability (ID) may have treatment-resistant epilepsy that could benefit from VPA treatment.

AIMS

This investigation compared VPA prescribing practice for women/girls with ID between European countries, specifically evaluating the practice in the UK with that in other countries.

METHODS

An expert working group with representation from key stake-holding organizations developed a survey for dissemination to relevant professionals across Europe.

RESULTS

Seventy one responses were received (27 UK, 44 Europe). Clinicians in the UK were more likely to report that they are working to mandatory regulations compared with European respondents (P = .015). European respondents were less likely to be aware of user-independent contraception options (P = .06). In The UK, VPA regulations were more likely to be applied to women with ID than in Europe (P = .024).

CONCLUSION

There is heterogeneity in the application of VPA regulations across Europe for women/girls with ID. In both the UK and Europe, the regulations lack suitable adjustments for specific ID-related factors.

Risk-benefit assessment of treatment of epileptic women of childbearing age with valproic acid

AIM

Valproic acid (VPA) is a widely used anti-epileptic drug (AED) of demonstrated efficacy. However, its teratogenic effects have resulted in many regulatory agencies recommending that it should not be administered to women of childbearing age unless they are taking contraceptives. The aim of this study was to determine the willingness of candidate patients to change their treatment and to monitor the evolution of their attitude.

METHODS

We identified patients aged between 15 and 45 years old who had been diagnosed with epilepsy and were being treated with VPA. A shared decision-making visit was arranged, during which variables related to their epilepsy were recorded. The patients were informed about the teratogenic effects of VPA and the risks/benefits of a change in treatment. The patient, or legal guardian, then freely chose the course of treatment that they wished to follow. On a follow-up visit, six months later, seizure control and tolerance to the chosen treatment were recorded. The variables related to each patient's willingness to their change treatment were analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 60 patients, with a median age of 32.7 years, were included in the study. Of these, 25 (41.7%) suffered some form of intellectual disability. Only one (1.7%) had poor seizure control. After the initial visit, 41 patients (68%) opted to continue with the VPA treatment, six opted to stop receiving VPA, and 13 decided to switch to another AED. The median age of the patients who opted to change treatment was significantly lower than that of those who opted to continue with the VPA treatment (29.1 vs. 34.4, p = 0.024). The absence of intellectual disability (p = 0.047) and a length of treatment of less than five years (0.016) were both significantly associated with the decision to change treatment. Of the 19 patients who changed treatment, nine (47%) returned to the initial treatment with VPA.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite being informed of the teratogenic risk associated with VPA, a significant number of patients and legal guardians opted to continue with this treatment; the reasons given for this were the low possibility of pregnancy and the risk of breakthrough seizures. In almost half the cases studied, the pharmacological alternatives to VPA were poorly tolerated and did not provide a good level of seizure control.