Neural Tube Defects: MedlinePlus

Neural Tube Defects: MedlinePlus

 

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National Institutes of Health

Neural Tube Defects

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Neural tube defects are birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord. They happen in the first month of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows that she is pregnant. The two most common neural tube defects are spina bifida and anencephaly. In spina bifida, the fetal spinal column doesn't close completely. There is usually nerve damage that causes at least some paralysis of the legs. In anencephaly, most of the brain and skull do not develop. Babies with anencephaly are either stillborn or die shortly after birth.
The exact causes of neural tube defects aren't known. You're at greater risk of having an infant with a neural tube defect if you

• Are obese
• Have poorly controlled diabetes
• Take certain antiseizure medicines

Getting enough folic acid, a type of B vitamin, before and during pregnancy prevents most neural tube defects.
Neural tube defects are usually diagnosed before the infant is born, through lab or imaging tests. There is no cure for neural tube defects. The nerve damage and loss of function that are present at birth are usually permanent. However, a variety of treatments can sometimes prevent further damage and help with complications.

NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA  

• Alpha fetoprotein
• Anencephaly

Related Topics

• Brain Malformations
• Hydrocephalus
• Spina Bifida
• Brain and Nerves
• Genetics/Birth Defects

National Institutes of Health

• The primary NIH organization for research on Neural Tube Defects is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

 

 

Start Here

• Folic Acid Helps Prevent Neural Tube Defects(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Neural Tube Defects(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
• Neural Tube Defects(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) 

• Overviews

  • What Are Neural Tube Defects?(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

• Diagnosis/Symptoms

  • Chiari Malformation: Diagnosis(C&S Patient Education Foundation) - PDF
  • Chiari Malformation: Symptoms(C&S Patient Education Foundation) - PDF
  • How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Neural Tube Defects?(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

• Treatment

  • Chiari Malformation: Treatment(C&S Patient Education Foundation) - PDF
  • What Are the Treatments for Neural Tube Defects?(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

• Prevention/Screening

  • Maternal Blood Screening(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • MedlinePlus: Folic Acid(National Library of Medicine)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Triple Screen or Quad Screen(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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• Specific Conditions

  • Anencephaly(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
  • Cephalic Disorders(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
  • Cephalic Disorders(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Chiari Malformation(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
  • Chiari Malformation(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Encephaloceles(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
  • Facts about Anencephaly(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Facts about Encephalocele(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Hydranencephaly(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
  • Iniencephaly(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
  • Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome(American Association of Neurological Surgeons)
  • Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
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• Related Issues

  • Are There Disorders or Conditions Associated with Neural Tube Defects?(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
  • Finding a Neurosurgeon(C&S Patient Education Foundation) - PDF
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• Videos

  • Craniofacial Procedure to Treat Encephalocele and an Arachnoid Cyst(OR-Live) - Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, 1/28/2009
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• Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Neural Tube Defects(National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Anencephaly(National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Arnold-Chiari Malformation(National Institutes of Health)
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• Genetics

  • Genetics Home Reference: Anencephaly(National Library of Medicine)
  • Genetics Home Reference: Spina bifida(National Library of Medicine)
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• Research

  • Folic Acid for the Prevention of Infant Neural Tube Defects: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation(American College of Physicians) - PDF
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• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
  • Article: Mystery case: frontal meningoencephalocele causing recurrent bacterial meningitis.
  • Article: Seriously ill woman expecting a baby with anencephaly has waited...
  • Article: Changes in temporal flow characteristics of CSF in Chiari malformation...
  • Neural Tube Defects -- see more articles
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• Directories

  • Find a Neurologist(American Academy of Neurology)
  • Find a Neurosurgeon(Congress of Neurological Surgeons)
  • Find a Pediatrician or Pediatric Specialist(American Academy of Pediatrics)
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• Organizations

  • March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
  • Also available in Spanish
  • National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Return to top

• Statistics

  • Data and Statistics(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Trends in Spina Bifida and Anencephalus in the United States, 1991-2006(National Center for Health Statistics)
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• Children

  • Pediatric Chiari(C&S Patient Education Foundation)
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• Patient Handouts

  • Anencephaly
  • Also available in Spanish