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• Summary
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• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

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• Genetics

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Summary

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 usually either stillborn or die shortly after birth. Another type of defect, Chiari malformation, causes the brain tissue to extend into the spinal canal.

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:

• Have obesity
• 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

Start Here

• About Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
• Neural Tube Defects (March of Dimes Foundation)

Diagnosis and Tests

• Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Neural Tube Defects (NTDs)? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Folic Acid: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• What Are the Treatments for Neural Tube Defects (NTDs)? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Are There Disorders or Conditions Associated with Neural Tube Defects (NTDs)? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Anencephaly (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Birth Disorders of the Brain and Spinal Cord (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
• Encephalocele (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Genetics

• Anencephaly: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Spina bifida: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Statistics and Research

• How Many People Are at Risk for Neural Tube Defects (NTDs)? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

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

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Supplementation with Folic Acid or 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate and Prevention of Neural Tube...
• Article: Folate and Vitamin B12 Status in Women of Reproductive Age in...
• Article: Bibliometric Analysis and a Call for Increased Rigor in Citing Scientific...
• Neural Tube Defects -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Also in Spanish
• Find a Genetic Counselor (National Society of Genetic Counselors)
• Find a Pediatrician or Pediatric Specialist (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
• March of Dimes Foundation Also in Spanish
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Anencephaly (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish