[Ano-rectal abnormalities and esophageal atresia; familial and epidemiological studies]

The authors estimate the frequency of anorectal malformations (0.30 p. 1,000) and oesophageal atresia (0.20 p. 1,000) and record an increase in the sex-ratio along with a high percentage of associated malformations. From the available data and a family study on 366 anorectal malformations and 327 oesophageal atresia, they suggest the possibility of a dominant autosomal inheritance with weak penetrance, in certain cases of anorectal malformations and of a polygenic heredity in oesophageal atresia. The findings do not allow to reassure the parents completely of the sporadic cases, since the recurrence risk is 1-2 p. 100.