Birth defects research. Part A, Clinical and molecular teratology
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Birth Defects Res. Part A Clin. Mol. Teratol. · Mar 2012
ReviewNine new twin pairs with esophageal atresia: a review of the literature and performance of a twin study of the disorder.
Isolated esophageal atresia (EA) is a rare congenital malformation whose etiology remains largely unknown. Nine twin pairs with EA were identified from our clinical service, prompting the performance of a systematic review of the literature and the first reported twin study of isolated EA. ⋯ The observation of higher concordance rates for MZ compared to DZ twin pairs indicates that genetic factors contribute to isolated EA.
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Birth Defects Res. Part A Clin. Mol. Teratol. · Jan 2012
Multicenter StudyMedications used to treat nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and the risk of selected birth defects.
Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) occurs in up to 80% of pregnant women, but its association with birth outcomes is not clear. Several medications are used for the treatment of NVP; however, data are limited on their possible associations with birth defects. ⋯ NVP was not observed to be associated with an increased risk of birth defects; however, possible risks related to three treatments (i.e., proton pump inhibitors, steroids and ondansetron), which could be chance findings, warrant further investigation.
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Birth Defects Res. Part A Clin. Mol. Teratol. · Dec 2011
Health care expenditures among children with and those without spina bifida enrolled in Medicaid in North Carolina.
National data on health care use among children with special needs are limited and do not address children with spina bifida (SB). One recent study examined health care costs during 2003 among privately insured individuals with SB. Our objective was to compare health care use and expenditures among publicly insured children with SB to children without a major birth defect and among children with SB with and without hydrocephalus. ⋯ Expenditure comparisons by SB subtype are important for targeting health care resources.
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Birth Defects Res. Part A Clin. Mol. Teratol. · Dec 2011
Use of active surveillance methodologies to examine over-reporting of stillbirths on fetal death certificates.
Data from Iowa fetal death certificates (FDCs) suggest that reportable stillbirths (unintended fetal deaths ≥ 20 weeks gestation and/or weighing ≥ 350 grams) occur in about 1 in 200 deliveries. In 2005, the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders (IRCID) collaborated with other state stakeholders to establish the Iowa Stillbirth Surveillance Project. The goal of this project was to use population-based, active surveillance methodologies to identify reportable stillbirths delivered by Iowa residents since January 1, 2000. ⋯ These results suggest that over-reporting limits the use of FDCs as a primary ascertainment source for stillbirth surveillance in Iowa. Continued expansion of the IRCID active surveillance methodologies to monitor stillbirths in Iowa is recommended.
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Birth Defects Res. Part A Clin. Mol. Teratol. · Jul 2011
Maternal alcohol drinking pattern during pregnancy and the risk for an offspring with an isolated congenital heart defect and in particular a ventricular septal defect or an atrial septal defect.
This cohort study examines the possible association between maternal alcohol intake, including binge drinking, during pregnancy, and the subsequent risk of having a child with an isolated congenital heart defect and, more specifically, with the isolated form of ventricular septal defect (VSD) or of an atrial septal defect (ASD). ⋯ Prenatal exposure to low-to-moderate levels of alcohol on a weekly basis or occasional binge drinking during the early part of pregnancy was not statistical significantly associated with the prevalence of isolated VSD and ASD in offspring.