Valproate (All indications) updated on 06-15-2026

Table   Graphic     exposition period:

Congenital malformations
Adverse outcome OR 95%CII2k No. casesNo. exposedpublication biasROBE-value
All congenital malformations (majors, minors, majors and minors, or unspecified)3.00 [2.55, 3.52]29%37 studies149,2798,567low ROB5.45 [4.55; .]
Major congenital malformations2.85 [2.39, 3.40]34%29 studies149,0918,089low ROB5.14 [4.20; .]
Congenital heart defects2.59 [2.06, 3.26]15%16 studies2,2217,175low ROB4.63 [3.54; .]
Hypospadias5.76 [4.50, 7.38]3%11 studies11,9967,645low ROB11.00 [8.46; .]
Limb defects2.39 [1.75, 3.27]0%9 studies1,3343,319not evaluable ROB4.22 [2.90; .]
Spina bifida7.92 [3.67, 17.11]36%8 studies6,2752,443not evaluable ROB15.32 [6.79; .]
Microcephaly / Small head circumference for gestational age1.18 [0.96, 1.46]0%9 studies137,0665,272not evaluable ROB-
Neural Tube Defects9.34 [4.08, 21.40]0%7 studies523,298not evaluable ROB18.17 [7.62; .]
Oro-facial clefts3.57 [2.43, 5.25]0%7 studies2,8576,825not evaluable ROB6.61 [4.30; .]
Club foot / Talipes equinovarus3.26 [1.49, 7.13]68%4 studies22,1874,308not evaluable ROB5.97 [2.34; .]
Nervous system anomalies3.21 [2.06, 4.98]0%5 studies3743,543not evaluable ROB5.87 [3.54; .]
Polydactyly2.55 [0.48, 13.67]30%5 studies3,0952,112not evaluable ROB-
Urinary malformations1.35 [0.72, 2.52]0%5 studies292,942not evaluable ROB-
Cleft palate5.25 [2.34, 11.79]0%3 studies4,2711,608not evaluable ROB9.97 [4.10; .]
Digestive system anomalies1.49 [0.85, 2.60]0%4 studies232,518not evaluable ROB-
Genital anomalies4.68 [3.21, 6.82]0%4 studies1,0451,434not evaluable ROB8.83 [5.87; .]
Minor congenital malformations4.84 [2.06, 11.36]0%4 studies43106not evaluable ROB9.14 [3.54; .]
Atrial septal defect3.52 [0.57, 21.79]97%2 studies84,5701,580not evaluable ROB-
Cardiac septal defects2.67 [1.74, 4.10]0%2 studies16,5781,030not evaluable ROB4.78 [2.87; .]
Cleft lip with or without cleft palate5.08 [1.87, 13.82]0%3 studies1,6471,204not evaluable ROB9.64 [3.15; .]
Craniosynostosis6.12 [1.26, 29.85]0%2 studies768914not evaluable ROB11.72 [1.82; .]
Diaphragmatic hernia2.05 [0.58, 7.26]0%2 studies3,7791,580not evaluable ROB-
Ventricular septal defect2.07 [0.53, 8.04]83%2 studies25,6491,580not evaluable ROB-
Ano-rectal atresia and stenosis11.70 [3.09, 44.30]-1 study547913not evaluable ROB22.89 [5.63; .]
Chromosomal abnormalities2.66 [0.64, 11.11]0%2 studies1887not evaluable ROB-
Ebstein's anomaly20.35 [1.25, 330.13]-1 study50913not evaluable ROB40.20 [1.82; .]
Eye defects0.45 [0.12, 1.72]0%2 studies10309not evaluable ROB-
Eye, ear, face and neck malformations1.13 [0.47, 2.70]0%2 studies2957not evaluable ROB-
Hypoplastic left heart (HLH/HLHS)19.60 [3.59, 107.13]-1 study218913not evaluable ROB38.69 [6.63; .]
Pulmonary valve atresia27.80 [4.99, 154.94]-1 study154913not evaluable ROB55.10 [9.45; .]
Respiratory system anomalies2.45 [0.40, 14.80]43%2 studies2957not evaluable ROB-
Tetralogy of Fallot7.20 [1.33, 38.92]-1 study586913not evaluable ROB13.88 [2.00; .]
Valproate syndrome--0 study-
12 non statistically significant endpoints reported in only one study

Growth parameters and prematurity
Adverse outcome OR 95%CII2k No. casesNo. exposedpublication biasROBE-value
Preterm (< 37 weeks)1.08 [1.00, 1.17]0%19 studies289,8506,325low ROB1.39 [1.05; .]
Small for gestational age (weight)1.43 [1.10, 1.86]75%12 studies656,1737,528low ROB2.21 [1.43; .]
Low birth weight (< 2500g)1.41 [1.04, 1.91]70%6 studies267,0344,304not evaluable ROB2.16 [1.23; .]
Large for gestational age (weight)1.21 [0.74, 1.98]22%3 studies158845not evaluable ROB-
Macrosomia (> 4000g)0.91 [0.55, 1.51]28%3 studies577,4071,059not evaluable ROB-
4 non statistically significant endpoints reported in only one study

Maternal consequences
Adverse outcome OR 95%CII2k No. casesNo. exposedpublication biasROBE-value
Caesarean0.94 [0.79, 1.12]0%4 studies187,2441,241not evaluable ROB-
Assisted deliveries (forceps, vacuum, ...)1.18 [0.73, 1.90]0%2 studies177220not evaluable ROB-
Preeclampsia0.94 [0.77, 1.15]0%3 studies53,7512,428not evaluable ROB-
Postpartum hemorrhage0.99 [0.47, 2.06]88%2 studies203,631530not evaluable ROB-
Maternal consequences (as a whole)1.49 [1.23, 1.82]0%3 studies12,9942,133not evaluable ROB2.35 [1.75; .]
4 non statistically significant endpoints reported in only one study

Neonatal disorders
Adverse outcome OR 95%CII2k No. casesNo. exposedpublication biasROBE-value
Low Apgar score (< 7) (at 5 min)1.77 [1.20, 2.62]0%8 studies16,4991,341not evaluable ROB2.94 [1.68; .]
Neonatal medical care1.98 [1.58, 2.47]0%7 studies46,9091,092not evaluable ROB3.36 [2.54; .]
Low Apgar score (< 7) (at 1 min)2.39 [0.84, 6.81]50%4 studies134673not evaluable ROB-
Neonatal disorders (as a whole)1.05 [0.76, 1.44]35%3 studies225,7531,218not evaluable ROB-
Withdrawal syndrome / Neonatal abstinence syndrome / Poor neonatal adaptation189.00 [2.70, 13229.55]-1 study12not evaluable ROB377.50 [4.84; .]
Feeding difficulty24.38 [1.49, 397.73]0%2 studies23not evaluable ROB48.26 [2.35; .]
Neonatal intracranial hemorrhage15.00 [1.09, 206.94]0%2 studies33not evaluable ROB29.49 [1.40; .]
Very low Apgar score (< 5) (at 1 min)--0 study-
5 non statistically significant endpoints reported in only one study

Long term consequences
Adverse outcome OR 95%CII2k No. casesNo. exposedpublication biasROBE-value
Child/Infant death (> 28 days of life)3.01 [1.62, 5.60]0%2 studies4,7141,694not evaluable ROB5.47 [2.62; .]
4 non statistically significant endpoints reported in only one study

Intrauterine deaths
Adverse outcome OR 95%CII2k No. casesNo. exposedpublication biasROBE-value
Intrauterine deaths (as a whole or unspecified)1.60 [1.14, 2.23]55%8 studies1,3023,411not evaluable ROB2.58 [1.55; .]
Early intrauterine deaths (< 22 weeks) / Spontaneous abortions1.04 [0.84, 1.29]0%6 studies3692,499not evaluable ROB-
Elective/induced termination of pregnancy1.68 [1.22, 2.30]0%4 studies5241,627not evaluable ROB2.74 [1.74; .]
Late intrauterine deaths (> 22 weeks) / Stillbirths1.83 [1.01, 3.31]0%5 studies422,475not evaluable ROB3.07 [1.14; .]
Perinatal death2.16 [0.95, 4.89]0%3 studies271,833not evaluable ROB-
2 non statistically significant endpoints reported in only one study

Neuro-developmental disorders
Adverse outcome OR 95%CII2k No. casesNo. exposedpublication biasROBE-value
Language disorders/delay2.67 [2.06, 3.45]57%19 studies73,0452,461critical ROB4.78 [3.55; .]
Cognitive developmental disorders/delay (> 6 years old)2.79 [2.08, 3.75]40%15 studies24,6334,380low ROB5.03 [3.58; .]
ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder): Diagnosis/Risk1.25 [1.12, 1.40]0%13 studies165,5254,784low ROB1.81 [1.48; .]
ASD (Autism spectrum disorder): Diagnosis/Risk2.40 [1.82, 3.17]52%11 studies81,3996,009low ROB4.24 [3.05; .]
ASD (Autism spectrum disorder): Diagnosis2.48 [1.87, 3.29]54%10 studies81,3695,982low ROB4.40 [3.15; .]
Psychomotor developmental disorders/delay3.03 [2.16, 4.24]38%13 studies2071,526probable ROB5.51 [3.75; .]
ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder): Diagnosis1.24 [1.10, 1.39]0%8 studies153,6654,516not evaluable ROB1.77 [1.42; .]
Neuro-developmental disorders (as a whole)4.09 [3.54, 4.73]0%10 studies10,7773,740low ROB7.64 [6.53; .]
Severe cognitive developmental delay (Mental retardation) (> 6 years old)3.20 [2.45, 4.18]15%8 studies24,6144,141not evaluable ROB5.85 [4.33; .]
Cognitive developmental disorders/delay (3-6 years old)4.13 [2.17, 7.88]65%8 studies3,4661,995not evaluable ROB7.73 [3.76; .]
ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder): Risk1.51 [0.99, 2.32]16%7 studies11,883339not evaluable ROB-
Cognitive developmental disorders/delay (< 3 years old)4.09 [2.17, 7.69]53%5 studies64330not evaluable ROB7.65 [3.77; .]
Severe cognitive developmental delay (Mental retardation) (3-6 years old)3.21 [1.34, 7.71]54%5 studies3,4261,897not evaluable ROB5.88 [2.01; .]
ASD (Autism spectrum disorder): Risk1.28 [0.48, 3.42]0%3 studies3779not evaluable ROB-
Learning disorders 2.39 [0.79, 7.18]85%3 studies541,044not evaluable ROB-
Childhood autism (F84.0)4.90 [2.32, 10.37]-1 study2,065388not evaluable ROB9.27 [4.06; .]
1 non statistically significant endpoints reported in only one study

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