Spina bifida in Saudi Arabia: Is Consanguinity among the Parents a Risk Factor?

Abstract

Introduction: Spina bifida is an important birth defect. Its incidence differs from one country to another due to different factors. The aims of this study were: (1) to estimate the incidence of spina bifida in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah and compare it with the Eastern part of the Kingdom, and (2) to find out if consanguinity is a risk factor. Methodology: A prospective study was conducted over the period from April 1996 to March 1997 in the city of Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Western Province, Saudi Arabia. New cases of spina bifida were studied and compared to a control group of 72 cases. Results: During the study period, 18 cases of spina bifida were detected. The incidence was 1.09 per 1,000 live births. The male to female ratio was 2:1; however, this was not statistically significant. Consanguinity of the parents was found in 89% of the spina bifida parents and only 67% of the controls (p < 0.0005). Conclusion: (1) The incidence of spina bifida in the city of Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah was similar to that reported from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. (2) The consanguinity of the parents was a significant risk factor.

Maternal serum zinc deficiency in cases of neural tube defect in Gorgan, north Islamic Republic of Iran

“…Some researchers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region have reported that consanguinity in parents of babies with NTD is high [45,46]. The other significant difference between the cases and controls in the present study was the consumption of medications in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, a factor that is widely accepted as a cause in congenital malformations.…”

Neural Tube Defects in Algeria

“…It has shown that the rate of consanguineous marriage is high in NTD births (Murshid, 2000). In different Middle Eastern countries the rate of consanguineous marriages varies from 23.3% to 57.9% (Khoury & Massad, 1992;Teebi, 1994) The incidence of consanguineous marriage in Algeria was 23-34% (Benallegue & Kedji 1984;Zaoui & Biemont, 2002) and the frequency of consanguineous marriage rates were 40.5 and 30.6% in rural and urban settings, respectively (Zaoui & Biemont, 2002).…”

“…We were not able to confirm the suggestion that there is an increase risk for NTD in children born of consanguineous parents. The possibility that consanguinity could be a risk factor for NTD in a population requires further research (Murshid, 2000;Rajab et al, 1998).…”

Consanguinity and Chromosomal Abnormalities

“…Kulkarni reported the incidence of neural tube defects seen in 1.1%, higher incidence in CON families, 1.42% when they are 1 st cousins, 0.86% when they are far related, 0.57% in non-CON, 2.06% in uncle niece [31]. Consanguinity rates were noted to be higher among parents of newborns with congenital hydrocephalus and neural tube defects than in the general population [33,34].…”