Epilepsy in Women

Cynthia L. Harden, MD, Chief of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Care Institute, North Shore LIJ Health System and Professor of Neurology, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, USA.

Epilepsy requires careful management and monitoring through a woman's life
 
Epilepsy is a complex disease. The hormonal changes women experience, both day-to-day menstrual fluctuations and the longer waxes and wanings of a reproductive lifetime, make the management of epilepsy even more complicated. At some point, the well-being of a second person, a fetus, might also have to be taken into account.
 
Epilepsy in Women provides a detailed guide to this challenge. The wide-ranging approach encompasses all aspects of a woman's life including:
* Social and psychological impacts
* The impact in reproductive life
* Contraception
* Pregnancy
* Fetal health and long term developmental outcomes
* Lactation
* Menopause
 
Each practical chapter begins and ends with a case study that demonstrates the more general challenge. The authors develop themes to provide clinical guidance based on evidence and experience.
 
Written and edited by an international cast of experts, Epilepsy in Women provides crucial tips and recommendations for neurologists and gynecologists who need to be aware of the subtle effects of epilepsy on woman's life.

1 Gender difference in epidemiology and comorbidities of epilepsy
Ettore Beghi Massimiliano Beghi
 
2 The Social and Psychological Impacts of Epilepsy
Sanjeev. V. Thomas & Aparna Nair
 
3 The Menstrual Cycle Sex Hormones and Neuronal Excitability
Doodipala Samba Reddy
 
4 Catamenial epilepsy
Erik Taubøll, Line Sveberg Røste & Sigrid Svalheim
 
5 Impact of epilepsy and AEDs on reproductive health
Gerhard Luef
 
6 Contraception and epilepsy
Anne Davis & Kathleen Morrell
 
7 Diagnostic challenges with seizures in pregnancy
Sanjeev V. Thomas
 
8 Seizure control during pregnancy
Anne Sabers
 
9 Effect of pregnancy on AED kinetics
Peter Forgacs & Page Pennell
 
10 Fetal and maternal risks with seizures
Vilho Hiilesmaa & Kari Teramo
 
11 Obstetrical outcome and complications of pregnancy
Ingrid Borthen & Nils E. Gilhus
 
12 Mechanisms of teratogenic effects of AEDs
Lynsey E. Bruce, Ana M. Palacios, Bogdan J. Wlodarczyk & Richard H. Finnell
 
13 Major congenital malformations
Dina Battino & Torbjörn Tomson
 
14 Fetal AED syndromes
Usha Kini
 
15 Postnatal cognitive development
Evan Gedzelman & Kim Meador
 
16 Management of postpartum period and lactation
Autumn Klein
 
17 Management of epilepsy and pregnancy
Sanjeev V. Thomas, Torbjörn Tomson & Cynthia Harden
 
18 Perimenopause and Menopause
Cynthia Harden
 
19 Bone health
Alison Pack