[Role played by perinatal mortality in epidemiology of congenital malformations and disorders of metabolism (author's transl)].

Malformations were recorded from 17.4 per cent (n = 293) of all perinatal deaths which had occurred in the region of Rostock, between 1968 and 1974. No case of metabolic disease was identified. Two and more malformations were recorded from 44.7 per cent of the newborns. Pre-term infants accounted for 47.8 per cent of all perinatal deaths. Twenty-five per cent of the mothers were 30 years of age and more. Pathological phenomena had grown manifest during pregnancy in 56.4 per cent of the women involved. Complete registration of all cases of malformation and abnormality of metabolism is proposed and should be achieved by close examination of all perinatal deaths.