Research on cerebral palsy detailed by scientists at University of Liverpool
2008 JAN 14 -- According to recent research from Liverpool, the United Kingdom, "It has been hypothesised that cerebral palsy (CP) and other congenital anomalies are attributable to feto-fetal transfusion problems in a monochorionic multiple gestation. Thus more than one organ could be compromised leading to the coexistence of two or more anomalies in a fetus." "Such anomalies in a singleton birth may be attributable to early demise of the co-conceptus as a vanishing twin. To determine whether the coexistence of congenital anomalies and CP is greater than a chance finding by comparing the prevalence of congenital anomalies in children with CP with that in the general population of children. A population-based register of children with CP born in 1966-1991 in the counties of Merseyside and Cheshire, UK, comprised the index population. Coexisting congenital anomalies were recorded. For comparison the population prevalence of congenital anomalies was obtained from eight congenital malformation registers in the UK. Children with CP were found to have highly significant increases in risk for microcephaly, isolated hydrocephaly, congenital anomalies of the eye, congenital cardiac anomalies, cleft lip and/or palate and congenital dislocation of the hips and talipes (p <0.001) and atresias of the oesophagus (p <0.001) and intestines (p <0.01). The relative risks ranged from 3.1 (95% Cl 1.9 to 4.8; p<0.001) for congenital malformations of the cardiac septa to 116.09 (95% Cl 84.0 to 162.3; p<0.001) for microcephaly. Congenital anomalies in children with CP are found much more frequently than expected by/chance. A common pathogenic mechanism may account for the coexistence of disparate congenital anomalies," wrote P.O.D. Pharoah and colleagues, University of Liverpool. The researchers concluded: "A hypothesis is proposed for such a common pathogenic mechanism." Pharoah and colleagues published their study in Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition (Prevalence and pathogenesis of congenital anomalies in cerebral palsy. Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 2007;92(6):489-493). For additional information, contact P.O.D. Pharoah, University of Liverpool, Dept. of Public Health, Unit Perinatal & Pediatric Epidemiology, Liverpool L69 3GB, Merseyside, UK. Publisher contact information for the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition is: B M J Publishing Group, British Med Association House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England. Keywords: United Kingdom, Liverpool, Blood Transfusion, Central Nervous System Disease, Cerebral Palsy, Congenital Anomalies, Medical Device, Transfusion Medicine, University of Liverpool. This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.
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