Influenza epidemics and anencephaly.
To explore the postulated association between maternal influenza and congenital defects of the central nervous system, 14 virologically verified epidemics in Finland, 1969-82, were studied. Mothers of 248 anencephalic children were grouped into those whose first trimester had occurred during an epidemic period and those whose pregnancy had commenced during a non-epidemic period. No significant differences in prevalence of anencephaly were noted in these groups.
Saxén
L
L
Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Holmberg
P C
PC
Kurppa
K
K
Kuosma
E
E
Pyhälä
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000757:Anencephaly / Q000209:etiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*