Methods.

The Liverpool and Manchester Neurodevelopment group is currently undertaking a prospective study to investigate the effects of exposure to AEDs in utero. Between 2000 and 2006, 620 women were recruited from antenatal clinics in both Liverpool and Manchester. Information has been collected on 632 live births; 296 births were to women with epilepsy (including 6 twin pairs), 249 of whom were exposed to AEDs at the beginning of gestation. Within the exposed group, 64 children were exposed to sodium valproate (VPA), 44 to lamotrigine (LTG), 76 to carbamazepine (CBZ), 14 to other monotherapy treatments, and 51 to polytherapy treatments. The remaining 47 births were to women with epilepsy who were not on medication. In addition, information has been collected on 336 live births (including two twin pairs) born to women without epilepsy who were not taking medication. Information was also collected during the pregnancy regarding the mother's epilepsy, medical history, lifestyle, education, and occupational details. Maternal epilepsy information and pregnancy and birth details were verified using medical case notes. Information was collected in respect to the father's age, medical history, education, and occupational details.