Discordant anencephaly in a set of triplets.
A 38-year-old woman, gravida 5, para 3, with a triplet pregnancy discordant for anencephaly, is reported. The diagnosis was made prenatally by ultrasound. Autopsy of the anencephalic member revealed small adrenal glands with absent fetal cortex, and a coincidental tetralogy of Fallot. Studies of the histocompatible lymphocyte antigens of both parents were performed and they failed to demonstrate HLA B-27. The literature on anencephaly in triplets is summarized. The association of congenital heart disease and HLA B-27 with anencephaly is discussed.
D000328:Adult; D000757:Anencephaly / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D014310:Triplets