Prognosis of spina bifida in the era of prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the current outcome of a selected prenatally diagnosed spina bifida group.


METHODS
We analyzed and followed up 74 cases of prenatally diagnosed spina bifida.


RESULTS
Termination of pregnancy was chosen in 72% of the cases and 28% were live-born. Chromosomal defects were identified in 16%, although only 1.6% in isolated cases. Of the 21 live births, 3 died in the neonatal period. The other 18 (86%) were all alive after an average follow-up of 3 years and 6 months (range 5 months to 7 years and 4 months). From this group 11% are wheelchair-dependent, 87% of the patients older than 2 years of age are walking, 33% have had cerebral shunting and 72% have normal neurodevelopment. There was a better outcome in patients with closed defects; however, the rates of neuropathic bladder (50%) remain a concern.


CONCLUSIONS
Even with prenatal diagnosis and a tendency towards apparently less severe defects in the cases in which the pregnancies continue, the prognosis in terms of morbidity needs to remain guarded.
Aguilera
Susana
S
Fetal Medicine Research Unit, University of Bristol, St Michael's Hospital, Bristol, UK.
Soothill
Peter
P
Denbow
Mark
M
Pople
Ian
I
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography