Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Schleswig-Holstein University, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany.
Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2011 Oct;284(4):849-54. doi: 10.1007/s00404-010-1762-0. Epub 2010 Nov 16.
To verify a seasonal variation in the incidence of spina bifida and thus to identify possible environmental triggers leading to its developement.
An interdisciplinary approach has been taken to develop a better understanding of spina bifida through collaborative efforts from investigators specializing in genetics, fetal pathology, paediatrics, neuro-surgery and prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis. All pregnancies with fetal spina bifida were retrospectively analyzed from May 1 1993 through May 1 2010 at Luebeck University Fetal Health Center. Results were used to construct a model to predict the occurrence of fetal spina bifida based on seasonal variation and environmental influence reflected by climatic changes and environmental pollution. Furthermore, data were categorized in respect to the date of conception and subdivided into date of conception during summer (April-September) and winter months (October-March).
Neither a seasonal distribution of conception for fetuses with spina bifida in the defined time frame could be verified nor a relevant influence of the analyzed environmental factors on the prevalence of spina bifida could be proved. The incidence of spina bifida has remained relatively stable within the last 17 years at 2.5 per 1,000 screened pregnancies.
Since we were unable to demonstrate a relationship between seasonal variation and certain environmental factors on the incidence of fetal spina bifida, other factors should be investigated for a possible association with the onset of fetal spina bifida.
验证脊柱裂发病率的季节性变化，从而确定可能导致其发病的环境诱因。
通过遗传学家、胎儿病理学家、儿科医生、神经外科医生和产前超声诊断专家的合作，采用跨学科方法来更好地了解脊柱裂。对 1993 年 5 月 1 日至 2010 年 5 月 1 日期间吕贝克大学胎儿健康中心所有患有胎儿脊柱裂的妊娠进行回顾性分析。结果用于构建一个模型，根据季节变化和气候变化及环境污染反映的环境影响来预测胎儿脊柱裂的发生。此外，数据按受孕日期分类，并细分为夏季（4 月至 9 月）和冬季（10 月至 3 月）受孕日期。
在所定义的时间框架内，无法证实脊柱裂胎儿的受孕存在季节性分布，也无法证明所分析的环境因素对脊柱裂的流行有相关影响。在过去的 17 年中，脊柱裂的发病率一直保持在每 1000 例筛查妊娠 2.5 例的相对稳定水平。
由于我们未能证明季节性变化与胎儿脊柱裂发病率之间存在某些环境因素的关系，因此应调查其他可能与胎儿脊柱裂发病相关的因素。
