Twins and neural tube defects
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11178793 |
|---|---|
| Authors | E G Knox (University of Birmingham, corresponding author) |
| Year | 1974 |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 73-80 |
| Publication date | 1974-05-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0143-005X • E-ISSN: 1470-2738 |
| Publisher | BMJ (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1136/jech.28.2.73 |
| PMID | 4605406 |
| OpenAlex | W1991270103 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 6 |
| References cited | 13 |
The hypothesis that anencephalus stems from fetus-fetus interactions in dizygotic twin pairs is examined by comparing the epidemiological predictions of the hypothesis with available observations. The hypothesis itself was based upon the disease-discordance and sex-concordance characteristics of twin pairs affected with anencephalus, and upon the sex ratio of the disease itself. The testable predictions of the hypothesis are (a) that variations in the incidence of anencephalus should be related to variations in dizygotic twinning rates, and particularly that dizygotic twinning rates will set upper limits to the incidence of anencephalus, and (b) that the F/M ratio in anencephalic infants will be high in circumstances of high incidence, and specifically when the incidence is high in relation to the dizygotic twinning rate. Examples from international comparisons, secular changes, social class gradients, and variations according to maternal age confirm a consistent correspondence between observations and these predictions. In addition, the possibility was tested that some fetus-fetus interactions might be based upon sequential rather than simultaneous pairs of fetuses. This model predicted asymmetries of sex ratio in sibs immediately preceding propositi, with differences according to the sex of the affected child, and the predicted findings were confirmed. The fetus-fetus interaction hypothesis is therefore extended in the terms that about one third of occurrences are determined in a sequential manner. The success of the extended fetus-fetus interaction model in explaining a large number of otherwise unrelatable findings confirms its validity
Biology · Concordance · Crystal twinning · Dizygotic twins · Fetus · Incidence (geometry) · Obstetrics · Physics · Pregnancy · Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy · Cerebrospinal fluid and hydrocephalus · Demography · Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders · Genetics · Internal Medicine · Medicine
Twinning and anencephaly
Anencephalus and spina bifida
Twinning and anencephalus occurrence in relation to fetus-fetus interaction
The epidemiology of anencephaly and spina bifida in Izmir, Turkey, in the light of recent aetiological theories
Disease concordance and sex similarity in twins
Anencephalus, Spina Bifida, twins, and teratoma
Congenital Malformations of the Central Nervous System
Seasonal incidence of anencephalus
Anencephalus and dietary intakes
Congenital Malformations of the Central Nervous System in Scotland
Anencephaly in Uniovular Twins
Congenital Malformations of the Central Nervous System
Changes in the twinning rate in Canada 1926-70
An investigation of the high twinning rate in the Republic of Ireland
| Unique citing works | 6 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0.12 |
| Citation span | 1976 - 1980 (5) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |