[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":256},["ShallowReactive",2],{"oacs-site-data":3,"page:\u002Fabout-facs\u002Frisks-and-diagnosis":99},{"id":4,"extension":5,"meta":6,"stem":97,"__hash__":98},"site\u002Fsite.yaml","yaml",{"name":7,"shortName":8,"navTitle":7,"navSubtitle":9,"legalName":9,"charityNumber":10,"charityNumberLabel":11,"tagline":12,"heroTitle":13,"heroLead":14,"description":15,"contactEmail":16,"nav":17,"donateAmounts":88,"cta":93},"OACS Charity","OACS","Organisation for Anti-Convulsant Syndrome","1116497","Registered Charity No. 1116497","Support for families affected by Foetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome and valproate-related conditions","Support","Support, recognition, and improved services for families touched by Foetal Anti-Convulsant Syndromes.","OACS supports families affected by Foetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome (FACS), Foetal Valproate Syndrome (FVS), and related conditions. Information on valproate, Epilim, and anti-convulsant medicines in pregnancy.","oacscharity.org@gmail.com",[18,26,45,51,56,79,85],{"label":19,"to":20,"feature":21},"Home","\u002F",{"title":22,"description":23,"ctaLabel":24,"to":25},"Supporting families living with F.A.C.S","Recognition, improved services, and support for families touched by Fetal Anti-Convulsant Syndromes.","Get support","\u002Foacs-ireland",{"label":27,"to":28,"feature":29,"children":33},"About F.A.C.S","\u002Fabout-facs",{"title":30,"description":31,"ctaLabel":32,"to":28},"What is F.A.C.S?","Understand Fetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome, valproate risks, and the conditions it can cause.","Read about F.A.C.S",[34,37,41],{"label":35,"to":28,"description":36},"Overview","What F.A.C.S is and how it presents",{"label":38,"to":39,"description":40},"Risks & Diagnosis","\u002Fabout-facs\u002Frisks-and-diagnosis","Level of risk, Fetal Valproate Syndrome, and assessment",{"label":42,"to":43,"description":44},"Neurodevelopmental","\u002Fabout-facs\u002Fneurodevelopmental","Development, learning, communication, and behaviour",{"label":46,"to":47,"feature":48},"OACS Art Gallery","\u002Fart-gallery",{"title":46,"description":49,"ctaLabel":50,"to":47},"Creative work from children and adults across our community — celebrating every piece.","View the gallery",{"label":52,"to":25,"feature":53},"OACS Ireland",{"title":52,"description":54,"ctaLabel":55,"to":25},"Support, resources, and community for families affected by F.A.C.S across Ireland.","Visit OACS Ireland",{"label":57,"feature":58,"children":63},"About Us",{"title":59,"description":60,"ctaLabel":61,"to":62},"Meet the team","The people and aims behind OACS, working for recognition and support.","About OACS","\u002Fabout-us",[64,67,71,75],{"label":65,"to":62,"description":66},"Aims and Objectives","What we stand for",{"label":68,"to":69,"description":70},"Jo Cozens","\u002Fabout-us#jo-cozens","OACS Chairperson",{"label":72,"to":73,"description":74},"Karen Keely","\u002Fabout-us#karen-keely","OACS Trustee & Irish Liaison Officer",{"label":76,"to":77,"description":78},"Carol Lapidge","\u002Fabout-us#carol-lapidge","Support Trustee",{"label":80,"to":81,"feature":82},"News & Resources","\u002Fnews-resources",{"title":80,"description":83,"ctaLabel":84,"to":81},"Advocacy updates, the Sodium Valproate Inquiry, and resources for families and professionals.","Browse news & resources",{"label":86,"to":87},"Donate","\u002Fdonate",[89,90,91,92],10,25,50,100,{"title":94,"body":95,"button":96},"Support OACS","Donations help with admin, printing, outreach, and our website — so we can support more families.","Donate with PayPal","site","Tjhbe-BaURt8YEiBHgjLdrZWpDU6MVLCu9yjl7Z2Clo",{"id":100,"title":38,"body":101,"description":248,"disclaimer":249,"email":249,"extension":250,"eyebrow":27,"firstDoNoHarm":249,"heroBadge":249,"heroLead":249,"heroTitle":249,"meta":251,"navigation":252,"path":39,"quickLinks":249,"registerHref":249,"resourceLinks":249,"seo":253,"socials":249,"stem":254,"submitNote":249,"team":249,"valproateAlert":249,"website":249,"__hash__":255},"pages\u002Fabout-facs\u002Frisks-and-diagnosis.md",{"type":102,"value":103,"toc":232},"minimark",[104,109,113,118,121,124,128,131,135,138,141,157,164,168,175,186,190,201,205,208,212,215,219,229],[105,106,108],"h2",{"id":107},"current-opinion-of-fetal-anti-convulsant-syndromes","Current opinion of Fetal Anti-Convulsant Syndromes",[110,111,112],"p",{},"It is not only one anti-convulsant drug that causes Fetal Anti-Convulsant Syndromes. The majority of anti-convulsant drugs (AEDs) — around 10 of which, including the newer drugs — may cause Foetal Anticonvulsant Syndromes in various degrees.",[114,115,117],"h3",{"id":116},"low-dosage","Low dosage",[110,119,120],{},"The lowest possible dose of anti-convulsant medication is recommended, along with constant monitoring of the amount of the drug (serum concentration).",[110,122,123],{},"Today it is recognised that FACS affects males and females in equal numbers. Epilim (sodium valproate) affects 30–40% of children with major or minor malformations, including autism, with a 55% chance of a mother on Epilim having a second child born with Foetal Valproate Syndrome (FACS).",[114,125,127],{"id":126},"studies-indicate","Studies indicate",[110,129,130],{},"Fetal Valproate Syndrome is associated with a greater risk of neurological and cognitive abnormalities than other anti-convulsant medications.",[105,132,134],{"id":133},"understanding-the-risk","Understanding the risk",[110,136,137],{},"Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AEDs) are not only used to treat epilepsy but are also used to treat pain, migraine, bipolar, mental health and other conditions. One of the challenges that can occur for the pregnant mother with epilepsy is that some mothers tend to have more severe seizures during pregnancy. As a result, some doctors will increase the dosage during the pregnancy, which can make the foetus more susceptible to problems during pregnancy.",[110,139,140],{},"The risk of disability varies according to the specific drug taken; however, there are some patterns to be seen in all cases.",[110,142,143,144,148,149,152,153,156],{},"The risk for any one drug is about ",[145,146,147],"strong",{},"6 out of 100"," (that is double the background level of risk). The risk increases with the number of drugs. This means that babies of women taking two or more AEDs have between a ",[145,150,151],{},"10–14 out of 100"," risk of being born with a problem. For those taking the combination of valproate, carbamazepine and phenytoin, the risk can be as high as ",[145,154,155],{},"50 out of 100",".",[110,158,159,160,163],{},"There is also evidence that taking a larger dose of antiepileptic medication carries a greater risk for the baby. Babies of mothers taking more than 1g per day of valproate have ",[145,161,162],{},"more than twice the risk"," of congenital malformations, compared with those exposed to 600mg or less.",[105,165,167],{"id":166},"why-valproate-vpa-carries-particular-risk","Why valproate (VPA) carries particular risk",[110,169,170,171,174],{},"Sodium valproate (VPA — brand names include Epilim, Depakote, Convulex, Depakene, Encorate and Valpakine) crosses the placenta and can interfere with normal development, especially during the ",[145,172,173],{},"first trimester",". Many babies exposed to valproate are born healthy, but studies have found that women who take it during pregnancy have a greater chance of having a baby with a major birth defect or other health problem.",[110,176,177,178,182,183,156],{},"For what FVSD is and its physical characteristics, see ",[179,180,181],"a",{"href":28},"What is F.A.C.S","; for effects on learning and behaviour, see ",[179,184,185],{"href":43},"Neurodevelopmental effects",[105,187,189],{"id":188},"diagnosis","Diagnosis",[110,191,192,193,196,197,200],{},"There is ",[145,194,195],{},"no single test for FVSD",". A diagnosis is usually made by a team of specialist healthcare professionals working together. One example is the ",[145,198,199],{},"Fetal Exposure to Medicines Service (FEMS)"," — a pilot funded by NHS England to develop clinical pathways for those affected by in-utero exposure to valproate in the North of England. The team includes clinical geneticists, neuropsychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists.",[114,202,204],{"id":203},"neuropsychological-assessment","Neuropsychological assessment",[110,206,207],{},"A neuropsychological assessment will determine if there are learning or behavioural difficulties. It is recommended for children before starting school, and again at the end of primary school. Basic genetic tests may be carried out to rule out any other non-related medical conditions.",[114,209,211],{"id":210},"children-diagnosed-with-facs","Children diagnosed with FACS",[110,213,214],{},"Children diagnosed with FACS should have a full medical investigation, including heart and kidney scans, along with hearing and vision assessments.",[114,216,218],{"id":217},"recording-your-needs","Recording your needs",[110,220,221,222,228],{},"Because FVSD affects each person differently, it can help to keep your own record of how it affects you and what support you need. The NHS ",[179,223,227],{"href":224,"rel":225},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.england.nhs.uk\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F06\u002FPRN00983iv-health-and-care-passport-template.docx",[226],"nofollow","My Health and Care Passport"," is a free template you can use to share this information with the people supporting you.",[110,230,231],{},"If you have any questions about FVSD, please speak to your GP.",{"title":233,"searchDepth":234,"depth":234,"links":235},"",2,[236,241,242,243],{"id":107,"depth":234,"text":108,"children":237},[238,240],{"id":116,"depth":239,"text":117},3,{"id":126,"depth":239,"text":127},{"id":133,"depth":234,"text":134},{"id":166,"depth":234,"text":167},{"id":188,"depth":234,"text":189,"children":244},[245,246,247],{"id":203,"depth":239,"text":204},{"id":210,"depth":239,"text":211},{"id":217,"depth":239,"text":218},"Understanding the level of risk from anti-convulsant medicines in pregnancy, Fetal Valproate Syndrome, and how F.A.C.S is assessed.",null,"md",{},true,{"title":38,"description":248},"about-facs\u002Frisks-and-diagnosis","YHjncCSnIu0MwJuzhqBvsL8dPHqPDWQJ4mTpMfoZh5I",1780613212375]