Auricular mild errors of morphogenesis: epidemiological analysis, local correlations and clinical significance.
BACKGROUND
The mild errors or morphogenesis (MEMs) are well known and accepted markers of alterations in embryonic development with predictive value in identification of major malformations, specific genetic syndromes, metabolic and psychiatric disease and childhood malignancy.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to assess the contribution of auricular MEMs as part of total MEMs in an effort to study the factors influencing the different potential informative value of different types of MEMs and their variability with perinatal factors.


METHODS
Three thousand one hundred and seven consecutive born neonates were screened for auricular and non-auricular MEMs, inregistered concomitantly with major malformations and postural defects. The study was accomplished by our specially designed computerized program in a relatively large nonhomogeneous ethnic population, in the metropolitan area of Haifa, Israel.


RESULTS
The general prevalence of auricular MEMs was 43.1%; the most frequent pathogenetic type was the postural one. Significantly higher rates of auricular MEMs were associated with male sex, small- and large-for-gestational age, IVF pregnancy, triplet pregnancy, maternal diabetes and parental consanguinity.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the presence, number, and association or concomitance of auricular MEMs in the same neonate may have important clinical, diagnostic, pathogenetic, screening, and therapeutic value.
Bader
David
D
Department of Neonatology, Bnei Zion Medical Center, 47, Golomb Street, Haifa 31048, Israel. nicubz@netvision.net.il
Grun
Marta
M
Riskin-Mashiah
Shlomit
S
Grunfeld
Andrei
A
Kugleman
Amir
A
Kogelman
Amir
A
Chistyakov
Irena
I
Merlob
Paul
P
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology; D003241:Consanguinity; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D004431:Ear, External / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009024:Morphogenesis; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000453:epidemiology; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D012307:Risk Factors; D013577:Syndrome; D014310:Triplets