Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Neural tube defects are serious birth defects of the brain and the spinal cord due to interference with neural tube closure about the 28th day after fertilization. Seasonal variation in the development of neural tube defects has been reported. The objective of this study was to demonstrate any association between the season of conception and the development of neural tube defects in the north of Jordan. For a 7-year period between January 2000 and December 2006, data of 78 neonates born with neural tube defect were analyzed regarding dates of conception in relation to the development of neural tube defects. More affected babies were conceived in the late summer and early autumn. The study demonstrated that seasonality affected the incidence of neural tube defects in the north of Jordan.

Keywords

Jordan neural tube defects seasonal variation

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Langman’s Medical Embryology. 8th ed. Baltimore, MD : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000.

Bowman RM , Boshnjaku V. , McLone DG The changing incidence of myelomeningocele and its impact on pediatric neurosurgery: a review from the Children’s Memorial Hospital. Childs Nerv Syst. 2009;25(7):801-806.

Bound JP , Harvey PW , Francis BJ , Awwad F. , Gatrell AC Involvement of deprivation and environmental lead in neural tube defects: a matched case-control study. Arch Dis Child. 1997; 76(2):107-112.

Wickham C. , O’Broin S. , Kevany J. Seasonal variation in folate nutritional status. Ir J Med Sci. 1983;152(8):295-299.

Hien VT , Lam NT , Khan C. , et al. Folate and vitamin B12 status of women of reproductive age living in Hanoi City and Hai Duong Province of Vietnam. Public Health Nutr. 2009;12(7): 941-946.

Castilla EE , Orioli IM , Lugarinho R. , et al. Monthly and seasonal variations in the frequency of congenital anomalies. Int J Epidemiol. 1990;19(2):399-404.

Bound JP , Harvey PW , Francis BJ Seasonal prevalence of major congenital malformations in the Fylde of Lancashire 1957-1981. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1989 ;43(4):330-342.

Fornoff JE , Egler T. , Shen T. Prevalence of Neural Tube Defects in Illinois 1989-2002. Epidemiological Report Series 04:02. Springfield: Illinois Department of Public Health; 2004.

Pitkin RM Folate and neural tube defects. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007; 85(1):285S-288S.

10.

Whiteman D. , Murphy M. , Hey K. , O’Donnell M. , Goldacre M. Reproductive factors, subfertility and risk of neural tube defects: a case-control study based on the Oxford Record Linkage Study Register. Am J Epidemiol. 2000;152(9):823-828.

11.

Hendricks KA , Simpson JS , Larsen RD Neural tube defects along the Texas-Mexico border, 1993-1995. Am J Epidemiol. 1999; 149(12):1119-1127.

12.

Davies BR , Duran M. Malformations of the cranium, vertebral column, and related central nervous system: morphologic heterogeneity may indicate biological diversity. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2003;67(8):563-571.

13.

Owen TJ , Halliday JL , Stone CA Neural tube defects in Victoria, Australia: potential contributing factors and public health implications. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2001;24(6):584-589.

14.

Vieira AR Birth order and neural tube defects: a reappraisal. J Neurol Sci. 2004;217(1):65-72.

15.

Marzullo G. , Fraser FC Similar rhythms of seasonal conceptions in neural tube defects and schizophrenia: a hypothesis of oxidant stress and the photoperiod. Clin Mol Teratol. 2005;73(1):1-5.

16.

Milunsky A. , Ulcickas M. , Rothman KJ , Willett W. , Jick SS , Jick H. Maternal heat exposure and neural tube defects . J Am Med Assoc. 1992;268(7):882-885.

17.

Shaw GM , Todoroff K. , Velie EM , Lammer EJ Maternal illness, including fever and medication use as risk factors for neural tube defects. Teratology. 1998;57(1):1-7.

Neural Tube Defects in the North of Jordan: Is There a Seasonal Variation?

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References