Amniotic fluid samples from fetuses with neural tube defects vs. Amniotic fluid samples from normal fetuses

In this microarray analysis, amniotic fluid samples taken from pregnant women carrying fetuses with neural tube defects (n=4) were compared to amniotic fluid samples taken from normal fetuses (n=5).

The amniotic fluid samples were taken between gestational weeks 17 and 19.

Neural tube defects included one fetus with spina bifida in the lumbosacral region, one fetus with both anencephaly and spina bifida in the lumbosacral region, and two fetuses with ventriculomegaly, “lemon-shaped” head, and lack of closure of the neural tube in the lumbosacral region.

The control samples were obtained from pregnant women who underwent routine genetic amniocentesis because of advanced maternal age (>35 years).