Risk of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with paternal use of valproate during spermatogenesis: a living meta-analysis—version 1

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of paternal use of valproate during spermatogenesis compared with paternal use of lamotrigine or levetiracetam on offspring risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). METHODS: Eligibility criteria: observational, peer-reviewed studies reporting neurodevelopmental outcomes of children exposed to paternal monotherapy use of valproate vs lamotrigine or levetiracetam during spermatogenesis. INFORMATION SOURCES: statistic for any NDD.We present a meta-analysis of observational, peer-reviewed studies reporting neurodevelopmental outcomes of children exposed to paternal monotherapy use of valproate versus lamotrigine or levetiracetam during spermatogenesis. Given the major regulatory implications of paternal valproate safety, the recent emergence of new population-based data, and the expectation of further large studies, we designed this work as a living systematic review and meta-analysis that will be updated as new eligible evidence becomes available. RESULTS: =0.0%). CONCLUSIONS: In this living meta-analysis, we found no evidence that paternal exposure to valproate compared with lamotrigine/levetiracetam during spermatogenesis was associated with increased risk of NDDs in offspring.

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Journal
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
Published
2026-05-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2026-338454
Primary Topic
Pharmacological Effects and Toxicity Studies
Type
article
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0.00

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article

Risk of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with paternal use of valproate during spermatogenesis: a living meta-analysis—version 1

Julie Werenberg Dreier, Jannicke Igland, Torbjörn Tomson, Betina B. Trabjerg et al.
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
Pharmacological Effects and Toxicity Studies
article

Risk of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with paternal use of valproate during spermatogenesis: a living meta-analysis—version 1

Julie Werenberg Dreier, Jannicke Igland, Torbjörn Tomson, Betina B. Trabjerg, HC Lai, Marleen M H J van Gelder, Jakob Christensen, Neda Razaz, Fei-Yuan Hsiao, Lin-Chieh Meng, Marte-Helene Bjørk, Hedvig M E Nordeng
article en

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of paternal use of valproate during spermatogenesis compared with paternal use of lamotrigine or levetiracetam on offspring risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). METHODS: Eligibility criteria: observational, peer-reviewed studies reporting neurodevelopmental outcomes of children exposed to paternal monotherapy use of valproate vs lamotrigine or levetiracetam during spermatogenesis. INFORMATION SOURCES: statistic for any NDD.We present a meta-analysis of observational, peer-reviewed studies reporting neurodevelopmental outcomes of children exposed to paternal monotherapy use of valproate versus lamotrigine or levetiracetam during spermatogenesis. Given the major regulatory implications of paternal valproate safety, the recent emergence of new population-based data, and the expectation of further large studies, we designed this work as a living systematic review and meta-analysis that will be updated as new eligible evidence becomes available. RESULTS: =0.0%). CONCLUSIONS: In this living meta-analysis, we found no evidence that paternal exposure to valproate compared with lamotrigine/levetiracetam during spermatogenesis was associated with increased risk of NDDs in offspring.

Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NO), Karolinska University Hospital (SE), National Taiwan University (TW), University of Oslo (NO), Aarhus University (DK), Haukeland University Hospital (NO), Aarhus University Hospital (DK), Karolinska Institutet (SE), NORCE Research AS (NO), National Taiwan University Hospital (TW), University of Bergen (NO), University of Pennsylvania (US)
Epilepsiforeningen, Lundbeckfonden, Norges Forskningsråd, Novo Nordisk Fonden
Openalex Percentile: Top 5%
Pharmacological Effects and Toxicity Studies
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