[Neonatal autopsy and genetic counseling. 350 cases]

Congenital anomalies or malformations have now become the principal cause of neonatal deaths, as confirmed by the present study of 350 consecutive autopsies studied from 1977 to 1981. The overall incidence of congenital malformations for the whole period considered was of 36.8%. However, during this short four-year lapse of time, a steady increase from 26.8% in 1977 to 48.1% in 1981 could be noticed. This increase is concomitant to the decrease of the "classical" causes of neonatal deaths, namely prematurity sequellae and intrapartal death. Indeed, many different entities have been identified; it seems interesting to point out, however, the relatively great number of autosomal recessive diseases found in the present series. For a full genetic profit, neonatal autopsy should be complete and systematically followed by genetic counseling.