Prevalence of craniorachischisis in a Texas-Mexico border population

BACKGROUND The most severe neural tube defect (NTD), craniorachischisis, is characterized by anencephaly confluent with spina bifida open from the cervical to the lumbar region. We describe the prevalence of craniorachischisis among the Texas–Mexico border population during the period 1993–1999. MET...

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Published in:Birth defects research. A Clinical and molecular teratology 2004-02, Vol.70 (2), p.92-94
Main Authors: Johnson, Kelly M.K., Suarez, Lucina, Felkner, Marilyn M., Hendricks, Kate
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
African Americans - statistics & numerical data
Biological and medical sciences
craniorachischisis
Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gestational Age
Hispanics
Humans
Mexican Americans
Mexican Americans - statistics & numerical data
Mexico - epidemiology
Mexico - ethnology
neural tube defects
Neural Tube Defects - epidemiology
Neural Tube Defects - ethnology
Population Surveillance
Pregnancy
Prevalence
Teratology. Teratogens
Texas - epidemiology
Texas - ethnology
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Summary:BACKGROUND The most severe neural tube defect (NTD), craniorachischisis, is characterized by anencephaly confluent with spina bifida open from the cervical to the lumbar region. We describe the prevalence of craniorachischisis among the Texas–Mexico border population during the period 1993–1999. METHODS An active surveillance system identified all clinically apparent NTD‐affected fetuses and infants born to mothers residing and delivering in any of the 14 Texas–Mexico border counties. Craniorachischisis cases included live‐born, stillborn, and therapeutic abortions. RESULTS A total of 16 craniorachischisis cases were identified for a total prevalence of 0.51 per 10,000 live births (Mexican American prevalence, 0.52 per 10,000) and a prevalence of 0.28 per 10,000 live births for cases of 20 weeks gestation or greater. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of craniorachischisis was higher than that reported in Atlanta (0.1 per 10,000 live births), but much lower than that reported in Northern China (10.7 per 10,000 births). In this high NTD prevalence region, it is possible that a multiplicity of risk factors, mostly related to poverty, contribute to a high prevalence of craniorachischisis. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 67:000–000, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ISSN:1542-0752
1542-0760
DOI:10.1002/bdra.10143