B. Thorand et al., MATERNAL AND FETAL SERUM AND RED-BLOOD-CELL FOLATE AND VITAMIN-B-12 CONCENTRATIONS IN PREGNANCIES AFFECTED BY NEURAL-TUBE DEFECTS, Zeitschrift fur Geburtshilfe und Perinatologie, 200(5), 1996, pp. 176-180
In the present study maternal and fetal serum and red cell folate and
vitamin B-12 concentrations were determined in NTD affected and in con
trol pregnancies. Fetal serum folate (p <0.001) and red cell folate (p
<0.001) concentrations were significantly higher than maternal levels
in the cases as well as in the controls. Maternal and fetal vitamin B
-12 concentrations did not differ significantly in both groups. There
were also no significant differences in maternal and fetal vitamin con
centrations in the peripheral blood between cases and controls. Howeve
r, when a subgroup analysis was performed according to the type of NTD
we found significant differences in fetal vitamin B-12 status between
anencephaly and spina bifida cases as well as between anencephaly cas
es and the controls.