Real prevalence of neural tube defects in Japan: How many of such pregnancies have been terminated? (original) (raw)

Decline of neural tube defects cases after a folic acid campaign in Nuevo Le�n, M�xico

Teratology, 2002

Background: Nuevo León is a state in northeastern Mexico, near the border of Texas. Mean mortality rate from 1996-98 due to anencephaly cases was 0.6/1,000. In 1999 a surveillance program for the registry and prevention of neural tube defects (NTD) cases was initiated. Methods: Cases were obtained from hospitals and OB-GYN clinics by immediate notification, death certificates, or fetal death registries. Only isolated cases of NTD were included. In August 1999 a folic acid campaign was initiated with the free distribution of the vitamin to low-income women with a recommendation to take a 5.0-mg pill once a week. Number of cases and rates from 1999 to 2001 were compared (2 test). Results: After 2 years there has been a significant reduction in the number of cases and rates. In 1999 there were 95 NTD cases and in the years 2000 and 2001 there were only 59 and 55 respectively (P Ͻ 0.

Relation of neural tube defects with folic acid use during pregnancy

Annals of medical research, 2018

The objective of this study was to investigate the rate of neural tube defects (NTD) and the clinical features of newborns of mothers who did not use folic acid (FA) in their pregnancies. Material and methods: The data of a total of 82 newborns, who were diagnosed with meningomyelocele were operated and examined, retrospectively. The newborns were divided into two groups depending on whether their mothers used FA during pregnancy or not. Results: The mothers of 37 (45.1%) newborns used FA during the antenatal period, whereas those of 45 (54.9%) newborns did not. The mean birth weight of the newborns whose mothers did not use FA were lower. Furthermore 9 (25%) newborns whose mothers did not use FA were delivered via cesarean section.The incidence of meningomyelocele was 80% for 45 newborns with NTDs whose mothers did not use FA. Conclusion: Our results revealed that the mean birth weight was lower while the incidence of meningomyelocele was significantly higher in newborn infants whose mothers did not use FA.

Weekly Administration of Folic Acid and Epidemiology of Neural Tube Defects

Maternal and Child Health Journal, 2006

Objective: In 1999, a folic acid campaign for prevention of neural tube defects was started in Nuevo León, México, with the recommendation of taking a 5000 -mcg tablet of folic acid per week. The purpose of this study was to compare the epidemiology of neural tube defects after four years of the campaign. Methods: Cases of anencephaly, spina bifida, and encephalocele (ICD Q00, Q01, Q05, 10th Ed.) from public and private hospitals were registered by immediate notification, death certificates, and fetal death registries. Comparisons of neural tube defects rates, phenotype distribution of cases, and sex ratios, registered before and after the folic acid campaign, were done using the Student’s t Test and Chi square test. Results: There was a 50% reduction in the incidence of anencephaly and spina bifida cases from 93 in 1999 (1.04×1000) to 46 in the year 2003 (0.56×1000) (p < 0.001). Spina bifida cases declined up to 70% in 2002 and anencephaly cases up to 50% in 2003. In 1999, overall, the ratio (females: males) was 0.66 with female excess; the sex ratio was similar for anencephaly and spina bifida cases. In the year 2000, female cases showed a significant reduction for both spina bifida and anencephaly (75% and 56% respectively); the sex ratio was 0.57 with a greater male excess for both phenotypes. Conclusions: Weekly administration of 5000 mcg of folic acid reduces the incidence of neural tube defects 50%, primarily spina bifida, with a higher reduction of female cases.

Folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects

Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, 2013

Evidence from controlled trials suggests that ingestion of 0.4 mg of folic acid per day in the periconceptional period is effective in preventing neural tube defects (NTD). For this reason, most countries recommend that women planning pregnancy take folic acid supplements in the periconceptional period, and some countries even fortify stable foods with folic acid. Denmark exemplifies a country with a relatively conservative attitude with respect to taking action in these matters. In 1999, a national information campaign was launched that recommended women planning pregnancy take 0.4 mg of folic acid periconceptionally, but with the moderation that women who eat a healthy diet do not need to take folic acid supplement. The campaign was repeated during 2001. The results of the latter campaign were evaluated by using data from a national survey among pregnant women conducted simultaneously with the campaign by the Danish National Birth Cohort. An increase in the proportion of folic acid users took place concomitantly with the launching of the information events, but the increase was limited. Among women who did not plan their pregnancy, a small proportion had taken folic acid supplements periconceptionally, and this proportion did not change concomitantly with the campaign. Young age and low education were factors associated with low likelihood of taking folic acid. It seems that different and more efficient actions are needed if a more substantial proportion of Danish women and their fetuses are going to benefit from the knowledge that folic acid supplementation in the periconceptional period can prevent NTD.

Prevention of Neural Tube Defects by Folic Acid Supplementation: A National Population-Based Study

Nutrients

Folic acid supplementation is recommended for neural tube defect prevention during pregnancy. We conducted an observational, retrospective national registry study to determine the rate of dispensing of periconceptional folic acid after prescription in a sample of French women representative of the general population. Our study population (n = 186,061) was a representative sample of the French population, recorded in the Health Data System database on pharmacy dispensing of medication and mandatory reporting of pregnancy. Between 2006 and 2016, 14.3% of pregnant women had a prescription for folic acid supplementation during the month preceding conception and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Of these prescriptions, 30.9% were issued before the start of pregnancy. This percentage was lower for first pregnancies. The rate of pharmacy dispensing during the preconception period increased progressively from 3.8% to 8.3% between 2006 and 2016. In France, the rate of pharmacy dispensing ...

Folic Acid and Birth Defects: A Case Study (Iran)

Journal of …, 2011

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of folic acid use in pregnancy for the reduction of neural tube defects (NTDs) in the northwest region of Iran. We studied 243 women with pregnancies complicated by some forms of birth defect(s). These patients were identified by medical diagnostic tests as having a fetus with some types of congenital anomalies. The prevalence of NTDs among pregnant women who were referred for therapeutic termination of pregnancy was 24.7 percent. Consumption of folic acid prevented NTDs by 79 percent (Odds Ratio = 0.21, CI 95%: 0.12-0.40) and 94 percent (Odds Ratio = 0.06, CI 95%: 0.03-0.15) compared to pregnancies complicated by other anomalies and normal pregnancies, respectively. Hydrops fetalis, hydrocephaly, Down syndrome, and limb anomalies did not have any significant association with the folic acid use. Along with the advice for the consumption of folic acid for pregnant women, they should be offered prenatal screening or diagnostic tests to identify fetal abnormalities for possible termination of pregnancy.

Folic acid and prevention of the neural tube defects

Ceska gynekologie, 2014

Overview of neural tube defect in relation to use of folic acid among fertile-age women. Review article. Obstetrics and gynecology department OU and FN Ostrava. Neural tube defects (NTDs) are one of the most common birth defects in the Czech Republic. The relation between using of folic acid and decrease of the incidence NTDs was first described in 1965. Fertile-age women are not able to get enough folate from their diet, therefore right timing and proper dosing of folic acid is the object of numerous studies. Many countries started theirs food fortification programs because of the high percentage of unplanned pregnancies and often low compliance. The role of folic acid in prevention of NTDs is undeniable. Due to the large number of unplanned pregnancies long-term supplementation is recommended for all fertile-age women. If pregnancy is planned, the suplementation should begin at least one month before pregnancy. In both cases it is necessary to continue until the end of the week of...

The use of folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects and other congenital anomalies

Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada Jogc Journal D Obstetrique Et Gynecologie Du Canada Jogc, 2003

OBJECTIVE: To provide information regarding the use of folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs) and other congenital anomalies, in order that physicians, midwives, nurses, and other health-care workers can assist in the education of women in the preconception phase of their health care. OPTION: Folic acid supplementation is problematic, since 50% of pregnancies are unplanned and the health status of women may not be optimal.OUTCOMES: Folic acid supplementation has been proven to decrease or minimize specific birth defects.EVIDENCE: A systematic review of the literature, including review and peer-reviewed articles, government publications, the previous Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) Policy Statement of March 1993, and statements from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, was used to develop a new clinical practice guideline for the SOGC.VALUES: Peer-review process within the committee structure.BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS: The benefit is reduced lethal and severe morbidity birth defects and the harm is minimal. The personal cost is of vitamin supplementation on a daily basis and eating a healthy diet.RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Women in the reproductive age group should be advised about the benefits of folic acid supplementation during wellness visits (birth control renewal, Pap testing, yearly examination), especially if pregnancy is contemplated. (III-A) 2. Women should be advised to maintain a healthy nutritional diet, as recommended in Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating (good or excellent sources of folic acid: broccoli, spinach, peas, Brussels sprouts, corn, beans, lentils, oranges). (III-A) 3. Women who could become pregnant should be advised to take a multivitamin containing 0.4 mg to 1.0 mg of folic acid daily. (II-1A) 4. Women taking a multivitamin with folic acid supplement should be advised not to take more than 1 daily dose of vitamin supplement, as indicated on the product label. (II-2A) 5. Women in intermediate- to high-risk categories for NTDs (NTD-affected previous pregnancy, family history, insulin-dependent diabetes, epilepsy treatment with valproic acid or carbamazepine) should be advised that high-dose folic acid (4.0 mg-5.0 mg daily) supplementation is recommended. This should be taken as folic acid alone, not in a multivitamin format, due to risk of excessive intake of other vitamins such as vitamin A. (I-A) 6. The choice of a 5 mg folic acid daily dose for women considering a pregnancy should be made under medical supervision after minimizing the risk of undiagnosed vitamin B12 deficiency (hypersegmentation of polymorphonuclear cells, macrocystic indices, large ovalocytes, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, markedly elevated lactate dehydrogenase level, confirmed red blood cell folate level). (II-2A) 7. Signs or symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency should be considered before initiating folic acid supplementation of doses greater than 1.0 mg. (III-A) 8. A three-generation pedigree on the families of both the pregnant woman and the biological father should be obtained to identify increased risk for congenital birth defects (i.e., NTD, cardiac, chromosomal, genetic). (III-A) 9. Women who become pregnant should be advised of the availability of noninvasive screening tests and invasive diagnostic tests for congenital birth defects (including NTDs): maternal serum "triple marker screen" at 15 to 20 weeks, ultrasound at 16 to 20 weeks, and amniocentesis after 15 weeks of pregnancy if a positive screening test is present. (I-A) VALIDATION: This is a revision of a previous guideline and information from other consensus reviews from medical and government publications has been used.