Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 47, Issue 2 , Pages 141-150, June 2008

Syndromes, Disorders and Maternal Risk Factors Associated with Neural Tube Defects (IV)

  • Chih-Ping Chen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Department of Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Institute of Clinical and Community Health Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Chih-Ping Chen, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, 92, Section 2, Chung-Shan North Road, Taipei, Taiwan

Accepted 17 April 2008.

Article Outline

Summary 

Fetuses with neural tube defects (NTDs) may be associated with maternal and fetal risk factors. This article provides a comprehensive review of maternal and fetal risk factors associated with NTDs, such as infertility, periconceptional clomiphene use and assisted reproductive technology, periconceptional folic acid deficiency and effects offolic acid supplementation and fortification on NTD rates, periconceptional vitamin B1 2 deficiency, single nucleotide polymorphisms and polymorphisms in genes of folate metabolism, and maternal autoantibodies to folate receptors. NTDs associated with maternal and fetal risk factors are an important cause of NTDs. Perinatal identification of NTDs should alert the clinician to the maternal and fetal risk factors associated with NTDs, and prompt a thorough etiologic investigation and genetic counseling. [Taiwan J Obstet Cynecol 2008;47(2):141-1 50]

Key Words:  fetal , maternal , neural tube defects , risk factors

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PII: S1028-4559(08)60071-6

doi:10.1016/S1028-4559(08)60071-6

Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 47, Issue 2 , Pages 141-150, June 2008

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