Possible basis for primary prevention of birth defects with folic acid.
Prepregnancy counselling is efficient in cases of chronic maternal disease, selection of medication and avoiding bad life habits. A new policy is the use of folic acid in the periconceptional period for the purpose of reducing the chance of having a baby with neural tube defects (NTD). Research in progress at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, is presented demonstrating that a derangement of methionine-homocysteine metabolism could be the underlying mechanism of pathogenesis and prevention with folic acid. Such derangement was found in +/- 20% of cases with NTD, recurrent miscarriage and placental infarcts (abruption) and offers new possibilities for primary prevention in three major areas.
Eskes
T K
TK
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000517:prevention & control; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid