Neural Tube Defects: A Retrospective Study of 69 Cases

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are congenital disorders that significantly increase the risk of death and disability in the 1^st year of life. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the patients admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit because of NTD.

We retrospectively examined the demographic features, familial risk factors, physical examination and radiological findings, and accompanying diseases of 69 patients with NTD.

Of the 69 patients hospitalized in a 5-year period, 38 were female and 31 were male. The median birth weight was 3150 g and the median delivery week was 38 weeks. Forty-nine of the patients (71%) had meningomyelocele, 11 patients (16%) had encephalocele, and nine patients (13%) had meningocele. Forty-five of the patients (65.2%) had Arnold-Chiari type 2 malformation. Twenty-five percent of the mothers had a history of periconceptional use of folic acid. The median time of making a diagnosis of NTD by prenatal ultrasonography was 20 (16-24) weeks. Thirty-nine of the patients (56.5%) had other organ disorders, some with multiple systemic disorders.

The use of periconceptional folic acid in mothers and a decision for termination in selected cases may be effective in reducing the frequency of NTD.