To investigate the course of epilepsy and seizure control during pregnancy. 105 pregnant women with epilepsy were studied prospectively during the period from 2013 to 2017. The average age at the onset of epilepsy was 17.4 ± 0.5 years. Seizures during pregnancy were observed in 76 (72.4 ± 4.4%) women. Eleven (10.5 ± 3.0%) women had their first seizure during current pregnancy. Among those 94 women who were diagnosed with epilepsy before pregnancy, 29 (30.9 ± 4.8%) remained seizure free; seizure frequency increased in 27 (28.7 ± 4.7%), decreased in 24 (25.5 ± 4.5%) women, in 14 (14.9 ± 3.7%) remained unchanged. Among 15 women who were seizure free for the 1 year prior to pregnancy 11 (73.3 ± 11.4%) women remained seizure free during pregnancy. The worsening in seizure control during pregnancy occurred in 22 (35.5 ± 6.1%) of 62 women with focal epilepsy and 5 (15.6 ± 6.4%) of 32 with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.0-8.81). Non-compliance with the antiepileptic drug therapy was observed in 20 (19.0 ± 3.8%) pregnant women, seizure frequency increased in 18 (90.0 ± 6.7%) of them compared with 5 (9.8 ± 4.2%) of 51 of those who followed correct antiepileptic drug regimen (p < 0.001). The risk of seizures during pregnancy was lower in women who were seizure-free for the 1 year prior to pregnancy; focal epilepsy was associated with an increased risk of seizure relapse during pregnancy; non-compliance with the antiepileptic drug therapy and inappropriate treatment may lead to worsening of seizure control and to the status epilepticus during pregnancy.

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Introduction: Most seizures during pregnancy occur in women who already have epilepsy. Rarely, some women may have their first seizure during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical features and pregnancy outcomes in women with new-onset epilepsy during pregnancy. Methods: 112 pregnant women with epilepsy were prospectively evaluated at the Education -Therapeutic Clinic of the Azerbaijan Medical University, in the neurological and maternity departments of the Clinical Medical Center in Baku over a six-year period. Women were regularly followed by a neurologist and obstetrician till the end of pregnancy. To determine the recurrence of seizures during the pregnancy and after delivery, the women were followed up at least once per three months for a one year period after delivery. Delivery and perinatal outcomes were compared with those of 277 healthy women in the control group (without epilepsy and without registering chronic diseases). Results: Of the 112 pregnant women with epilepsy, 12 (10.7%) had their first seizures during the pregnancy: 6 in the 1 st , 4 in the 2 nd , 2 in the 3 rd trimester. Women with new-onset epilepsy had increased risk of cesarean section and perinatal hypoxia in offspring, compared with controls (Odds ratio [OR]: 13.57; 95% confidence interval (CI):2.86-64.31 and OR: 3.61; 95 % CI: 1.06-12.27, respectively). The risks of cesarean section and perinatal hypoxia were not increased in women with new-onset epilepsy compared to women with epilepsy before pregnancy (OR 2.64; 95 % CI 0.54-12.93 and OR 2.18, 95% CI 0.61-7.76, respectively). Conclusion:In our cohort, women with new-onset epilepsy may have an increased risk of delivery by cesarean section and perinatal hypoxia compared to pregnant controls. The risks were not increased compared to women with epilepsy before pregnancy. Neonatal hypoxia was associated with delivery by cesarean section.

Aim. To investigate the peculiarities of focal epilepsy in pregnant women. Methods. 70 pregnant women with symptomatic focal epilepsy during the period from 2013 to 2017 were studied. Results. The average age at the onset of epilepsy was 18.2±0.6 years. The average duration of epilepsy by the time of pregnancy was 6.6±0.7 years. 15 (21.4±4.9%) women remained seizure-free during pregnancy. Seizures during pregnancy were observed in 55 (78.6±4.9%) women: seizure frequency increased in 22 (31.4±5.5%) cases, decreased in 17 (24.3±5.1%), remained unchanged in 8 (11.4±3.8%), in 8 (11.4±3.8%) women the onset of epilepsy occurred during pregnancy. 72.7% of women who were seizure-free for 1 year prior to pregnancy remained seizure-free during pregnancy. In 21 (40.4%) of 52 women with epilepsy diagnosed prior to pregnancy and treated with antiepileptic drugs, the increase of seizure frequency was observed, which can be explained by non-compliance with the regimen and therapy and sleep deprivation in 15 (71.4%) of them. Generalized convulsive status epilepticus during pregnancy was observed in 1 (1.4±1.4%) woman after a sudden withdrawal of the antiepileptic drug. Conclusion. The risk of seizures during pregnancy is lower in women who were seziure-free for 1 year prior to pregnancy; non-compliance with the regimen and therapy and sleep deprivation may lead to worsening of epilepsy during pregnancy.

Brain abnormalities can cause resistant epileptic seizures and significant neurological deficits. In this article we present the clinical cases of cerebral hemiatrophy (DykeDavidoffMasson syndrome) and polymicrogyria with adescription of their classical clinical features and radiological and electrophysiological characteristics. The classical signs of DykeDavidoffMasson syndrome in neuroimaging are cerebral hemiatrophy, calvarial thickening, and hyperpneumatization of the frontal sinuses. Polymycrogyria characterized by a gross defect of the cortex with multiple small superficial gyri can manifest as hemi- or tetraparesis, focal epilepsy, and developmental delay. Further study of brain abnormalities, obtaining high-quality images with neuroimaging and their careful analysis can help improve the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment of patients with this pathology.