HEALTH OF WOMAN.2015.1(97):185–188; doi 10.15574/HW.2015.97.185 
 

Consulting on prevention of congenital neural tube defects in children in primary care 
 

Maychuk V., Kotova N.

Odessa national medical University 
 

A retrospective analysis of the incidence of CNS congenital defects in children, the risk factors in mothers who gave birth to children with NTD (175 women) compared with the control group (60 mothers of children without NTD, congenital defects and other chromosomal aberrations), and a prospective analysis of the degree of the folate cycle metabolic disorders and MTHFR C677T/A1298C gene polymorphisms analysis was conducted.

The reduction in the frequency of children born with congenital malformations of the CNS of nearly 2 times was found during a 14-year period, but a reduction in the frequency of children born with severe spinal disraphia has not been achieved. Increased proportion of this pathology among the causes of infant mortality was also identified. Risk factors that increase chances for having child with NTD for women of childbearing age are: burdened obstetrical history – to 3.4 times; family history of stroke, heart attack, varicose disease, thrombosis – to 3.04 times, cancer pathology of the gastrointestinal tract and/or reproductive system – to 2.9 times; family history of congenital malformations – to 3.9 times; congenital malformations in other children in this family – to 4.36 times. It is advisable to motivate women from high risk groups to consult a specialist in medical genetics and/or family planning for further investigation, the individual risk and the appropriate prophylactic dose of folic acid determination. 
 

Key words: spina bifida, risk factors, primary prevention, primary care. 
 

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