Stanford Medcast Episode 50: Hot Topics Mini-Series - Pregnancy and Epilepsy: Balancing the Risk and Outcomes

In this episode, Dr. Kimford Meador, Professor of Neurology and Neurosciences at Stanford University and Clinical Director of Stanford Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, provides an overview of epilepsy and women of child bearing age. Patients with epilepsy who become pregnant are at risk of complications, including changes in seizure frequency, maternal morbidity and mortality, and congenital anomalies due to antiepileptic drug exposure. We will discuss the appropriate management of epilepsy during pregnancy, the impact of epileptic drugs on children born to epileptic mothers, the risk for epileptic women to experience anxiety and depression. Dr. Meador will also provide tips for clinicians treating patients with epilepsy, to improve their outcomes and the reduce the risks to their children.

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1. Incorporate screening strategies to diagnose pregnant patients for epilepsy in order to provide optimal care and reduce risks to the unborn child.
2. Counsel patients about the risks of pregnancy and drug therapy for the treatment of epileptic seizures.

In support of improving patient care, Stanford Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 

Credit Designation 
American Medical Association (AMA) 
Stanford Medicine designates this Enduring Material for a maximum of 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

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Cultural and Linguistic Competency
The planners and speakers of this CME activity have been encouraged to address cultural issues relevant to their topic area for the purpose of complying with California Assembly Bill 1195. Moreover, the Stanford University School of Medicine Multicultural Health Portal contains many useful cultural and linguistic competency tools including culture guides, language access information and pertinent state and federal laws.  You are encouraged to visit the Multicultural Health Portal: https://laneguides.stanford.edu/multicultural-health

References
Please click here for the list of references.

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Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Stanford Medicine adheres to the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.

There are no relevant financial relationships with ACCME-defined ineligible companies for anyone who was in control of the content of this activity, except those listed in the table below. All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.

Member Information

Role in activity

Nature of Relationship(s) / Name of Ineligible Company(s)

Ruth Adewuya, MD
Managing Director
Stanford University

Course Director, Reviewer

Nothing to disclose

Kimford Meador, MD
Professor of Neurology
Stanford University School of Medicine

Faculty

Grant or research support-Eisai, Inc.|Grant or research support-Medtronic, Inc.|Other: The non-profit Epilepsy Study Consortium pays Dr. Meador’s university a set amount for direction of the Cognitive Core of the Human Epilepsy Project and for consultant work for the Epilepsy Study Consortium related to the following companies: Eisai, GW Pharmaceuticals, Medtronics, Livo Nova, NeuroPace, Novartis, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, Supernus, Upsher-Smith Laboratories, UCB Pharma, and Vivus Pharmaceuticals. (1/2010 – present).-Epilepsy Study Consortium

Ishita Verma
Student
Stanford University

Planner

Nothing to disclose