Down's syndrome and neural tube defects are not linked

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7431.0-c

BMJ 2004;328 (10 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7431.0-c

Down's syndrome and neural tube defects are not linked

Having a family history of neural tube defects or Down's syndromedoes not predispose to a higher risk of the other condition.To identify an association between neural tube defect, hydrocephalus,and Down's syndrome, Amorim and colleagues analysed data onmore than 1.5 million children born in South America between1982 and 2000. They found that the expected and observed numbersof cases of Down's syndrome, hydrocephalus, and neural tubedefect were similar regardless of the family history. A linkbetween the conditions, previously described by other researchers,could not be confirmed.