Epilepsy drugs during pregnancy 'increase autism risk'

Pregnant women taking a drug used to treat epilepsy may be increasing their child’s chance of developing autism, research suggested today.

Using the drug valproate while pregnant could lead to a “substantial” risk of children being diagnosed with the condition, report author Professor Gus Baker, of the University of Liverpool’s clinical neuropsychology department, said.

Symptoms of autism include difficulty in language development, a lack of attention, social problems and the inability to understand other people’s feelings.

More than 600 children were studied for the research, which is described as being in its preliminary stages.

Just fewer than half of the children were exposed to epilepsy drugs during gestation for the study.

Some 64 children were exposed to valproate while others were exposed to different epilepsy drugs.

The study found that nine of the 632 children had been diagnosed with autism and a further child had shown symptoms of the disorder.

Seven of the children with autism had mothers who had taken an epilepsy drug while pregnant.

Four of these children were exposed to valproate, while the mother of a fifth child took a combination of valproate and another epilepsy drug.

In the study the children whose mothers had been given valproate during pregnancy were seven times more likely to develop autism compared to children whose mothers did not take epilepsy drugs during pregnancy.

Prof Baker said: “The potential risk for autism in this study was substantial for children whose mothers took valproate while pregnant, but more research needs to be done since these are early findings.

“However women who take valproate while pregnant should be informed of the possible risks of autism and are encouraged to discuss them with their doctor.

“Those who are taking valproate should not stop their treatment without speaking to their doctor first.”

Mark Lever, National Autistic Society (NAS) chief executive, said: “The NAS, the UK’s leading charity for people with autism and their families, follows new research with great interest and welcomes robust research which throws light onto the causes of autism.

“In recent years autism has been linked to a host of potential contributing factors; some of these theories have been discredited and some are subject to ongoing research.

“People with autism and their families are naturally concerned to get the right information and there is much confusion and concern over the various theories put forward.”

He added: “It is crucial they have access to appropriate advice and support, as well as the services to enable them to cope with living with autism in their daily lives.”

The study was conducted by the Liverpool and Manchester neurodevelopment group and was published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.