ABSTRACT
The Objective of this paper is to determine if phenobarbital exposure during pregnancy
affects developmental outcome at age 2 years. Between 1991 and 1994, 401 pregnant
patients at risk for delivery prior to 34 weeks' gestation were invited to participat;
48 mothers declined entry. Before delivery, pharmacy randomized the pregnant women
to receive phenobarbital and vitamin K or identically appearing placebo in a blinded
fashion. Developmental follow-up at age 2 years was performed. Children from the treatment
group scored signifcantly lower on the Bayler Mental Developmental Index (mean MDI
± 1 SD) than children whose mothers were randomized to the placebo group [104 ± 21 (n = 59) vs. 113 ± 22 (n = 62), p = 0.023]. Of 36 independent variables, randomization group was one of five that individually
contributed to the prediction of the Bayley MDI score (p < 0.05). It was concluded that perinatal phenobarbital therapy may impair developmental
outcome.
Keywords
Phenobarbital - antenatal exposure - perinatal exposure - developmental outcome -
intelligence
