Antiepileptic Drugs as Teratogens: The Mechanism Remains a Mystery. Issue 6 (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mefford, Heather C.
• Is Part Of: Epilepsy currents. Volume 20:Issue 6(2020)
• Page Start: 365
• Page End: 366
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Epilepsy -- Periodicals; 616.853005
• DOI: 10.1177/1535759720961057
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1535-7597

Abstract

Antiepileptic Drug Teratogenicity and De Novo Genetic Variation Load Perucca P, Anderson A, Jazayeri D, et al. Ann Neurol . 2020;87(6):897-906. doi:10.1002/ana.25724 Objective: The mechanisms by which antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) cause birth defects (BDs) are unknown. Data suggest that AED-induced BDs may result from a genome-wide increase of de novo variants in the embryo, a mechanism that we investigated. Methods: Whole exome sequencing data from child-parent trios were interrogated for de novo single-nucleotide variants/indels (dnSNVs/indels) and de novo copy number variants (dnCNVs). Generalized linear models were applied to assess de novo variant burdens in children exposed prenatally to AEDs (AED-exposed children) versus children without BDs not exposed prenatally to AEDs (AED-unexposed unaffected children), and AED-exposed children with BDs versus those without BDs, adjusting for confounders. Fisher exact test was used to compare categorical data. Results: Sixty-seven child–parent trios were included: 10 with AED-exposed children with BDs, 46 with AED-exposed unaffected children, and 11 with AED-unexposed unaffected children. The dnSNV/indel burden did not differ between AED-exposed children and AED-unexposed unaffected children (median dnSNV/indel number/child [range] = 3 [0-7] vs 3 [1-5], P = .50). Among AED-exposed children, there were no significant differences between those with BDs and those unaffected. Likely deleterious dnSNVs/indels were detected in 9 (13%) of 67 children, none of whom had BDs. The proportion of cases harboring likely deleterious dnSNVs/indels did not differ significantly between AED-unexposed and AED-exposed children. The dnCNV burden was not associated with AED exposure or birth outcome. Interpretation: Our study indicates that prenatal AED exposure does not increase the burden of de novo variants and that this mechanism is not a major contributor to AED-induced BDs. These results can be incorporated in routine patient counseling.