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Child's Nervous System
Published in: Child's Nervous System 7-8/2003

01-08-2003 | Original Paper

Prenatal biochemical screening for neural tube defects

Author: Françoise Muller

Published in: Child's Nervous System | Issue 7-8/2003

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Abstract

Introduction

Neural tube defects (NTDs) can be considered as a folate deficiency disorder. The prevalence of NTDs ranges from about 0.5 to 6 in 1,000 births.

Discussion

Two steps can be distinguished in biochemical screening for NTDs: 1. Screening in the general population, which is based on two complementary methods, maternal serum AFP screening and ultrasound screening; 2. Screening in a high-risk group, which requires fetal scanning by an expert sonographer.

Conclusion

Amniocentesis for acetylcholinesterase electrophoresis is indicated when sonographic scans are difficult to interpret.
Literature
1.
Brock DJH, Sutclife RG (1972) Alpha-fetoprotein in the antenatal diagnosis of anencephaly and spina bifida. Lancet 2:197–199PubMed
2.
Brock DJ, Bolton AE, Scimgeour JB (1974) Prenatal diagnosis of spina bifida and anencephaly through maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein measurement. Lancet 1:767–769PubMed
3.
Wald NJ (1994) Folic acid and neural tube defects: the current evidence and implications for prevention. Ciba Found Symp 181:192–211PubMed
4.
Wald NJ, Cuckle H, Brock DJ, Peto R, Polani PE, Woodford FP (1977) Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein measurement in the antenatal screening for anencephaly and spina bifida in early pregnancy. Report of UK Collaborative Study on Alpha-fetoprotein in Relation to Neural-Tube-Defects. Lancet 1:1323–1332PubMed
5.
Wald NJ, Cuckle H, Nanchahal K (1989) Amniotic fluid acetylcholinesterase measurement in the prenatal diagnosis of open neural tube defects. Second Report of the Collaborative Acetylcholinesterase Study. Prenat Diagn 9:813–829PubMed
Metadata
Title
Prenatal biochemical screening for neural tube defects
Author
Françoise Muller
Publication date
01-08-2003
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Child's Nervous System / Issue 7-8/2003
Print ISSN: 0256-7040
Electronic ISSN: 1433-0350
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-003-0784-3

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