How to Cite this Article: Agopian AJ, Canfield MA, Olney RS, Lupo PJ, Ramadhani T, Mitchell LE, Shaw GM, Moore CA, the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. 2012. Spina bifida subtypes and sub-phenotypes by maternal race/ethnicity in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Am J Med Genet Part A 158A:109–115.
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Research Article
Spina bifida subtypes and sub-phenotypes by maternal race/ethnicity in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study†
Article first published online: 2 DEC 2011
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.34383
Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Agopian, A.J., Canfield, M. A., Olney, R. S., Lupo, P. J., Ramadhani, T., Mitchell, L. E., Shaw, G. M., Moore, C. A. and the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (2012), Spina bifida subtypes and sub-phenotypes by maternal race/ethnicity in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Am. J. Med. Genet., 158A: 109–115. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.34383
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Publication History
- Issue published online: 19 DEC 2011
- Article first published online: 2 DEC 2011
- Manuscript Accepted: 24 OCT 2011
- Manuscript Received: 2 JUL 2011
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Keywords:
- spina bifida;
- neural tube defects;
- myelomeningocele;
- meningocele;
- myelocele;
- congenital abnormalities;
- descriptive epidemiology;
- Hispanic Americans;
- African Americans;
- sex
Abstract
Spina bifida refers to a collection of neural tube defects, including myelomeningocele, meningocele, and myelocele (SBM), as well as lipomyelomeningocele and lipomeningocele (SBL). Maternal race/ethnicity has been associated with an increased risk for spina bifida among offspring. To better understand this relationship, we evaluated different spina bifida subtypes (SBM vs. SBL) and sub-phenotypes (anatomic level or presence of additional malformations) by maternal race/ethnicity using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. This study is a large, multisite, population-based study of nonsyndromic birth defects. Prevalence estimates were obtained using data from spina bifida cases (live births, fetal deaths, and elective terminations) and total live births in the study regions. From October 1997 through December 2005, 1,046 infants/fetuses with spina bifida were delivered, yielding a prevalence of 3.06 per 10,000 live births. Differences in the prevalences of SBM vs. SBL, isolated versus non-isolated SBM, and lesion level in isolated SBM among case offspring were observed by maternal race/ethnicity. Compared to non-Hispanic (NH) White mothers, offspring of Hispanic mothers had higher prevalences of each subtype and most sub-phenotypes, while offspring of NH Black mothers generally had lower prevalences. Furthermore, differences in race/ethnicity among those with isolated SBM were more pronounced by sex. For instance, among male offspring, the prevalence of isolated SBM was significantly higher for those with Hispanic mothers compared to NH White mothers [prevalence ratio (PR): 1.55, 95% confidence interval: 1.23–1.95]. These findings provide evidence that certain spina bifida subtypes and sub-phenotypes may be etiologically distinct. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.