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Congenital Anomalies in Twins in Northern Ireland. II: Neural Tube Defects, 1974-1979

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

J. Little  and
N.C. Nevin
J. Little*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Nottingham, England
N.C. Nevin
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Genetics, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland
*
Department of Community Medicine and Epidemiology, The University of Nottingham Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK

Abstract

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In a large population-based study in Northern Ireland during the period 1974-1979, the rate of anencephalus in twins (9.1/10,000) was found to be less than that in singletons (24.3/10,000). This finding is in contrast with most other studies and the possibility of underascertainment of twin cases is considered, but it is concluded that chance is the likeliest explanation. The rate of spina bifida in twins (36.4/10,000) was similar to that in singletons (31.9/10,000). All of the twins with anencephalus were female and from pairs of like sex. Rates of spina bifida in twins from pairs of the two sex types were similar but, unusually, there was a male preponderance. As in previous studies, the great majority of twins with NTDs had unaffected cotwins.

Keywords

TwinsAscertainmentDiscordanceNeural tube defectsAnencephalusSpina bifidaEncephalocele
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 38 , Issue 1-2 , April 1989 , pp. 17 - 25
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1989

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