Defect complex de tub neural – neural tube defect (NTDS)

Abstract

After cardiac anomalies, NTDs are the most common birth defect, with a general prevalence of 1-5 per 1000 births. NTDs are characterized by incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube, which causes incomplete development of the spine and spinal cord in intrauterine 3-4 week. The most common NTDs are anencephaly, encephalocele and spina bifida. While different types of problems that anencephaly, resulting in neonatal death, birth or shortly thereafter, in the case of spina bifida, the survival rate is usually bigger, despite severe disabilities (varying degrees of paralysis). Along with genetic risk, environmental factors have an overwhelming importance in the development of NTDs. Administration of folic acid in pre-pregnancy periode and adequate prenatal diagnosis – MSAFP and ultrasonography - reduce the incidence at birth of neural tube defects by up to 60-95 %. We present a recent case study about a complex NTD.