Biomaterial Database

Neural-tube defects: importance of a history of abortion in aetiology. 1979

D R Evans

The overall incidence of anencephaly and spina bifida (ASB) in 69,056 pregnancies was 4.7/1000 births. ASB was more common (8.4/1000 births) among children of mothers who had had two or more abortions, but the increased risk was confined to spina bifida. A history of abortion was more common in older women and women of higher parity, but this was not matched by a similar increase in the incidence of ASB. The incidence of ASB was related to social class, but the prevalence of previous abortions was similar in all classes. The results suggest that expectant mothers with a history of two or more abortions have an increased risk of producing a child with spina bifida. The abortions are considered to be a manifestation of previous abnormal conceptions rather than the primary cause.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008423	Maternal Age	The age of the mother in PREGNANCY.	Age, Maternal,Ages, Maternal,Maternal Ages
D010298	Parity	The number of offspring a female has borne. It is contrasted with GRAVIDITY, which refers to the number of pregnancies, regardless of outcome.	Multiparity,Nulliparity,Primiparity,Parity Progression Ratio,Parity Progression Ratios,Ratio, Parity Progression,Ratios, Parity Progression
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000022	Abortion, Spontaneous	Expulsion of the product of FERTILIZATION before completing the term of GESTATION and without deliberate interference.	Abortion, Tubal,Early Pregnancy Loss,Miscarriage,Spontaneous Abortion,Abortions, Spontaneous,Abortions, Tubal,Early Pregnancy Losses,Loss, Early Pregnancy,Losses, Early Pregnancy,Miscarriages,Pregnancy Loss, Early,Pregnancy Losses, Early,Spontaneous Abortions,Tubal Abortion,Tubal Abortions
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000757	Anencephaly	A malformation of the nervous system caused by failure of the anterior neuropore to close. Infants are born with intact spinal cords, cerebellums, and brainstems, but lack formation of neural structures above this level. The skull is only partially formed but the eyes are usually normal. This condition may be associated with folate deficiency. Affected infants are only capable of primitive (brain stem) reflexes and usually do not survive for more than two weeks. (From Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p247)	Aprosencephaly,Absence of Brain, Congenital,Anencephalia,Anencephalus,Congenital Absence of Brain,Hemicranial Anencephaly,Incomplete Anencephaly,Partial Anencephaly,Anencephalias,Anencephalies, Partial,Anencephaly, Hemicranial,Anencephaly, Incomplete,Anencephaly, Partial,Aprosencephalies,Brain Congenital Absence,Partial Anencephalies
D012306	Risk	The probability that an event will occur. It encompasses a variety of measures of the probability of a generally unfavorable outcome.	Relative Risk,Relative Risks,Risk, Relative,Risks,Risks, Relative
D012923	Social Class	A stratum of people with similar position and prestige; includes social stratification. Social class is measured by criteria such as education, occupation, and income.	Caste,Social Gradients,Socioeconomic Level,Socioeconomic Status,Middle Class Population,Castes,Class, Social,Gradient, Social,Level, Socioeconomic,Middle Class Populations,Population, Middle Class,Social Classes,Social Gradient,Socioeconomic Levels,Status, Socioeconomic