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Developmental Effects On Children Of Women Who Take Antiepileptic Drugs During Pregnancy

Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs II: the NEAD Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00021866
Enrollment
331
Registered
2001-08-10
Start date
2000-09-30
Completion date
2012-08-31
Last updated
2013-11-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cognition Disorders, Epilepsy, Seizure

Keywords

epilepsy, seizure, pregnancy, antiepileptic, AED, carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproate, lamotrigine, child, behavior

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) differ in their neurodevelopmental effects. Specifically, do the children of the women with epilepsy differ in their behavioral and cognitive development depending on which AED their mother takes during pregnancy?

Detailed description

This is a prospective investigation enrolling 285 to 380 women with epilepsy during the first two trimesters of their pregnancies. There are 25 clinical centers as well as the database center. The women will be taking one of the following AEDs: carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproate, or lamotrigine. Cognitive and behavioral testing of the child will be done up to the age of 6 years. The study does not change the woman's doctor and does not interfere with the care of the treating physician.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALDifferential Abilities Scale

IQ measurement at 3, 4.5 and 6 years of age

BEHAVIORALNeuropsychological Testing

Tests of memory, attention, and behavior administered at 2,3, 4.5 and 6 Years of age

Sponsors

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
CollaboratorNIH
Emory University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
FAMILY_BASED
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Subject must be diagnosed with partial seizures and/or secondary generalization or primary generalized seizures (absence, atonic, myoclonic, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures) * Subjects must be on either carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenytoin, or valproate monotherapy. * Mothers must not have a history of drug abuse (including alcohol) in the last year and have no sequelae of drug abuse. * Mothers must be able to maintain an accurate seizure diary of major motor seizures * Subjects must have an IQ greater than or equal to 70 points. * Subjects must have a history of a negative RPR and HIV. * Subjects must not have progressive cerebral disease or presence of other major medical illness * Subjects must not have exposure to known teratogens during pregnancy, except AEDs. * Subjects must not have poor compliance with prenatal care. * Subjects must have adequate reading skills to perform the cognitive tests.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Child IQ as measured by the Differential Abilities Scale at 6 Years of age6 years

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Linguistic Functioning via Expressive one word vocabulary test and NEPSY subscales6 Years
Visual-Spatial Motor Functioning via NEPSY subscale and Visual-Motor Integration Scale6 Years
Memory via Children's Memory Scale6 Years
Executive Functioning,Tower-NEPSY6 Years
Academic Functioning via Wide Range Achievement Test6 Years
Adaptive Functioning via Adaptive Behavior System -2nd Edition6 Years
Behavior via Behavior Assessment for Children & Parent Stress Index6 Years
Motor Functioning via Grooved Pegboard6 Years

Countries

United Kingdom, United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 24, 2026