title: Periconceptional risk factors of spina bifida among Egyptian population: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the preconceptual & early conceptional risk factors predisposing to the development of spina bifida (SB) among Egyptian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 197 pregnant women undergoing fetal anatomy scan; 97 women proved to have fetal SB and 100 women with normal fetuses as a control group. The control group was recruited randomly in the same period from patients undergoing anatomical scan. Risk factors that might lead to SB were investigated including maternal age, gravidity, parity, residence, history of diabetes mellitus or drug intake, smoking, infections, exposure to X-ray, history of congenital anomalies in other offspring, parental consanguinity, positive family history, and folate supplementations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SB affected the lumbo-sacral region in the majority of cases (89.7%). It was associated with hydrocephalus in 66 cases (68%), polyhydramnios in 12 cases (12.4%). The SB group showed significantly higher parity (p = 0.005), more frequent history of drug intake (p < 0.001), higher frequency of infection with CMV (p = 0.004), and HSV (p = 0.013) and less proportion of folate supplementation (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of SB in the tested group was five per 1000. Risk factors were lack of folate supplementation and history of antiepileptic drugs intake.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Kasr Aini Hospital Cairo University , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maged
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Kasr Aini Hospital Cairo University , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Moutaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elsherbini
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Kasr Aini Hospital Cairo University , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Wafaa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ramadan
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Kasr Aini Hospital Cairo University , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Rasha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Elkomy
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Kasr Aini Hospital Cairo University , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Omneya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Helal
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Kasr Aini Hospital Cairo University , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hatem
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Kasr Aini Hospital Cairo University , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fouad
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Kasr Aini Hospital Cairo University , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gaafar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010298:Parity; D006831:Polyhydramnios / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid
keywords: 3D ultrasound; Consanguinity; hydrocephalus; spina bifida