Evaluations of Pregnancies Diagnosed with Fetal Neural Tube Defects in Our Center

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors, chromosomal abnormalities and additional anomalies of cases diagnosed with fetal neural tube defects (NTDs). Material and Method: The data of cases diagnosed with fetal NTDs between January 2016 and August 2020 with fetal NTD were retrieved from the hospital database. Only patients whose diagnosis confirmed after pregnancy termination and have a genetic test were included in the study.  The family and antenatal history of patients included maternal age, maternal education level, diabetes mellitus, exposed to teratogenic drugs, smoking, and folic acid intake before or during the first trimester, siblings with a congenital abnormality, consanguinity, and AFP MOMs (alpha-fetoprotein, multiple of median) was obtained. Also, the type and level of NTDs and additional anomalies were noted. The data were evaluated using version 23.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: During the study period, a total of 68 patients who met the study criteria were included in the study. A total of 27 patients diagnosed with spina bifida, 24 patients with anencephaly and 17 patients with encephalocele. The most anomalies resulted from NTDs was hydrocephaly and pes equinovarus. The most detected chromosomal abnormality was trisomy 13 (3 out of 7), and the most additional anomaly was the cleft lip and palate and detected in 4 (5.88%) patients. Pregestational DM was seen in 12/68 of pregnancies with fetal NTD. Conclusions The rate of additional anomalies and chromosomal abnormalities in cases diagnosed with fetal NTDs is high. Thus, a detailed ultrasonographic examination and genetic tests of fetuses with NTD is essential. The pregnancies complicated with pregestational DM have an increased risk for fetal NTD.