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Towards the prevention of neural tube defects
Author(s) -
Brock David J. H.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
clinical genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1399-0004
pISSN - 0009-9163
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-0004.1989.tb03211.x
Subject(s) - neural tube , neural tube defect , medicine , fetus , first trimester , obstetrics , pregnancy , rest (music) , second trimester , pediatrics , biology , genetics , embryo
The value of maternal periconceptional vitamin supplementation in preventing the conception of fetuses with neural tube defects has yet to be assessed in a properly designed study. Avoidance of the birth of affected infants continues to rest on second‐trimester maternal serum alphafetoprotein screening. The performance of screening programmes in achieving this objective is reviewed.