[The current status of prenatal diagnosis of myelomeningocele--results of a questionnaire].

Questionnaires were sent to 1000 parents of children with myelomeningocele in order to get a better knowledge of the present state of prenatal diagnosis of this disease. 566 parents answered; 488 responders, in whom the pregnancy took place 1982 and later, were evaluated in detail. 85% of the parents reported having been checked by ultrasound 2 times and more during pregnancy: however, only 27% of the myelomeningoceles were detected before delivery. 83% were diagnosed between the 30th and 40th week of pregnancy. The rate of discovery rose from 0% and 37% between 1982 and 1990. As a consequence of this result, one should make every effort by using ultrasound and alpha-foetoprotein-screening to verify or to exclude a myelomeningocele in an early phase of pregnancy. The delivery should take place in a specialised centre, and the knowledge of life expectancy and life quality of these patients should be improved, for the obstetricians as well as for the parents.