FETAL VALPROATE SYNDROME - 4 NEW CASES

Background. - Sodium valproate administration during pregnancy may be teratogenic; it is associated with an increased risk of neural tube de fect, tetralogy of Fallot, oral clefting and other facial abnormalitie s. Knowledge of these harmful effects is still poor. Case reports. - F our children, including three siblings, presented with characteristic facial abnormalities (four cases), oral clefting (one case), mental re tardation (2/2 cases), and bone anomalies of forearm and hands (one ca se). The diagnosis of fetal valproate syndrome was only made at the ag e of 3 1/2 years in the eldest of the three siblings all born from an epileptic mother receiving valproate since the age of 13 years. Preven tion advice for further pregnancies was not followed. Conclusion. - Al l epileptic mothers should be aware of the risk of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy, specially those given sodium valproate, a potential ly teratogenic drug.