Abstract

INCIDENCE OFA NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS IN ACHILD OF EPILEPTIC WOMAN

Dr. Oqbah Mhmood Atiyah*, Dr. Ahmed Farhan Raheem and Dr. Ghassan Abbood Jabir Al-Tamimy

ABSTRACT

Background: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a group of birth defects that result from a partial or complete failure of the neural tube to close during embryogenesis. Their prevalence varies between 0.5 to 2 per 1000 births in countries without folic acid supplementation. The aim of our study is to assess the NTDs incidence and describe the risk factors within iraq newborn infants. Method: This is a descriptive study over a period of 3 years including all births. notification of NTD cases, whether isolated or combined with other anomalies. Data were reported on pre-established sheets and on the teratovigilance registry. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 18 statistical software. Results: During the study period, births were recorded including 22 cases of neural tube defects, an incidence rate of 1 per 1000 births, with a female predominance; sex ratio = 0.8. The risk factors detected during this study include consanguinity (34%), consumption of fenugreek diabetes (4.5%) and medication (2.2%). A family history of malformation was reported in 6.8% of cases and among siblings in 4.5% of cases. The average maternal age was 30.38 ± 6.88 and the average gestational age was 36.80 ± 5.11. A quarter of mothers did not benefit from any medical monitoring during pregnancy while 59% did not take folic acid supplementation during the first trimester of pregnancy and none of them took B9 vitamin during the periconceptional period. The antenatal diagnosis was performed in 63% of cases. The mortality rate was 3.8 per 10,000 and 16% of cases evolved positively. Conclusion: NTDs require high intensity and multidisciplinary care which stresses the importance, in our context, of strengthening and optimizing acid folic supplementation strategies during the periconceptional period. Aim of study: The history of intervention trials of periconception folic acid with multivitamin and folic acid supplementation in women has shown a recent breakthrough in the primary prevention of structural birth defects, namely neural-tube defects and some other congenital abnormalities. The four methods are as follows: (i) dietary intake of folate and other vitamins, (ii) periconception folic acid/multivitamin supplementation, (iii) food fortification with folic acid.

Keywords: Incidence, o, Neural tube defects, Prevention, Risk factors.