title: Neural tube defects: are neurulation and canalization forms causally distinct?
abstract: Neural tube defects (NTD) may be separated according to the overall location and probable embryological origin into 2 groups: upper or neurulation defects, and lower or canalization defects. Evidence as to whether these 2 forms are causally related or distinct was sought from 2 sources. Families with more than one NTD individual were studied to examine whether there was concordance within sibships for these 2 types of lesion. Seven of the 38 sibships were discordant (18%). Eight of the 10 cases of NTD that had arisen despite maternal periconceptional vitamin supplementation were neurulation defects and 2 were canalization defects. Both observations suggest that upper and lower types of NTD are causally related, and offer no support for the suggestion that they are distinct.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical and Molecular Genetics, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London, England.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Seller
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000145:classification*; D010375:Pedigree; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins