Fetal valproate syndrome

Five patients with fetal valproate syndrome and autism have been described (118). 

Williams G, King J, Cunningham M, Stephan M, Kerr B, Hersh JH. Fetal valproate syndrome and autism additional evidence of an association. Dev Med Child Neurol 2001 43(3) 202-6. 

A 2-month-old boy bom to a mother taking valproate had typical dysmorphic features characteristic of fetal valproate syndrome [342 ]. He had a distinctive facial appearance, a cluster of minor and major anomalies, central nervous system dysfunction, a persistent left superior vena cava draining into a dilated coronary sinus, and mild pulmonary hypertension. 

Zaki SA, Phulsundar A, Shanbag P, Mauskar A. Fetal valproate syndrome in a 2-month-old male infant. Ann Saudi Med 2010 30(3) 233-5. 

Four cases of fetal valproate syndrome, characterized by major and minor malformations in association with developmental delay, have been reported [392 ]. The mothers were screened for the 677C-T mutation but only one was heterozygous for this mutation. 

Further cases of fetal valproate syndrome with unusual characteristics have been described [393, 394 ]. 

Seidahmed MZ, Miqdad AM, Al-Dohami HS, Shareefi OM. A case of fetal valproate syndrome with new features expanding the phenotype. Saudi Med J 2009 30(2) 288-91. 

Because of its propensity for causing liver damage, valproate therapy should be avoided in persons with liver disease. It should be used with caution before surgery, because it can produce thrombocytopenia and inhibition of platelet aggregation. In pregnancy, it has been associated with an increased risk of fetal epilepsy syndrome and spina bifida. 

Ozdemir OM, Kili5 I, Ozsari T, Kili5 BA, Faivre L, Aral B, Gtirses D, Semerci CN. Fetal sodium valproate exposure causes Baller-Gerold syndrome phenotype both phenotypes in the same family. Turk J Pediatr 2009 51(6) 631-6. 

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