الفهرس 
Hepatotoxic agentsOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The major problem in the management of epileptic patients
during pregnancy is the possibility that certain antiepleptic drugs
may induce fetal abnormalities. However, controversy still exists
regarding the potential teratogenicity of these drugs. The present
work was carried out to evaluate the teratogenic potential of some
commonly used antiepileptic drugs. namely phenytoin and
clonazepam. This was carried out through a prospective study on
the experimental animal albino rat.
Seventy five adult albino rats ranging in the weight from 180 to
200 gm were used. In this prospective study. There were 50 virgin
females and 25 males. They were kept under good nutritional and
general conditions. The animals were divided into 3 main groups.
The frist one was used as control. It consisted of 10 females
mated with 5 males.
Each of the other 2 groups consisted of 20 females mated with
10 males. For each group one antiepileptic drug was given intramuscularity
in its therapeutic dose. The frait subgroup was given
phenytoin sodium on days 7 to 15 of gestation. The second
subqroups was given clonazepam on days 7 to 15 of gesrarion.
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The secoud subgroup, was given clonazepam orally on days 7
to 15 of gestation.
Accurate evaluation of the experimental data was conducted
as follows.
1- The pregnant rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation 12 to 24
hours before the expected day of delivery. Foetuses were
taken immediately after being delivered by caeserian section.
2- The number of foetuses whether alive or dead and their exact
positions in the uterine horns were carefully noted. The fetuses
examined for external abnormalities. examined for cross
sectional abnormalities. skeletal, histological, .. etc.
3- Counting the number of the metrial glands which indicate the
original implantation sites and determine whether resorption
had occured or not.
Analysis of the data obtained revealed the following.
_ Adminstration of phenytoin sodium to female rats during
pregnancy affected markedely the offspring both the mean number
of offspring per mother at birth and their mean birth weight were
reduced. On the other hand. resorption rate and the mean fetal
length (crown - rump I ern) were also reduced. Some morphological
and skeletal abnormalities were detected among the offsprings and
in addition histopathological changes were detected in their internal
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organs. Lastly cross sectional abnormalities could be
demonstrated. Administration of clonazepam to female rats during
pregnancy did not lead to the appearance of morphological
abnormaHties among the offsprings. The effects induced by
clonazepam can be demonstrated.The mean number of offspring
per mother in clonazepam treated rats was reduced and few
histopathological changes were also detected among their internal
organs.
In conclusion phenytoin sodium found to be potentially
teratogenic and embryotoxic in rats while c~onazepamwas found to
be non teratogenic and its embryotoxic effects were limited. It is
advisable, therefore to give clonazepam with safely caution for
treatment of epileptic patients during the childbearing period of life,
and it can be given with least caution to pregnantwomwn. On the
other hand it is wise not to give phenytoin sodium to epileptic
patients during the childbearing period of life due to the fact that it is
teratogenic and embryotoxic.