LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Anencephaly
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Anencephaly is a neural tube defect, a disorder involving incomplete development of the brain, spinal cord, and/or their protective coverings. The neural tube is a narrow sheath that folds and closes between the 3rd and 4th weeks of pregnancy to form the brain and spinal cord of the embryo. Anencephaly arises from an embryonic defect occurring prior to day 26 which prevents the closure of the anterior neuropore. Anencephaly occurs when the "cephalic" or head end of the neural tube fails to close, resulting in the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp. Infants with this disorder are born without both a forebrain (the front part of the brain) and a cerebrum (the thinking and coordinating area of the brain). The remaining brain tissue is often exposed--not covered by bone or skin.
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Anencephaly is a neural tube defect (a disorder involving incomplete development of the brain, spinal cord, and/or their protective coverings). The neural tube is a narrow sheath that folds and closes between the 3rd and 4th weeks of pregnancy to form the brain and spinal cord of the embryo. Anencephaly occurs when the "cephalic" or head end of the neural tube fails to close, resulting in the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp. Infants with this disorder are born without both a forebrain (the front part of the brain) and a cerebrum (the thinking and coordinating area of the brain). The remaining brain tissue is often exposed--not covered by bone or skin. The infant is usually blind, deaf, unconscious, and unable to feel pain.
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Prenatal diagnosis Anencephaly can be detected prenatally by ultrasound sometimes as early as fourteen weeks depending on the lie of the fetus. It should be easily visible at twenty weeks on the ultrasound. Amniocentesis and measurement of the levels of alpha feta protein in the amniotic fluid can confirm the diagnosis. Alpha feta protein would be expected to be extremely high in this defect.
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Treatment for Anencephaly consists in surgically closing any opening of the sac that normally encloses the brain. Usually children with this disorder do not survive more than a few days or weeks. Diagnosis can often be made before birth with the use of ultrasound examination. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
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Anencephaly is readily apparent at birth because of the absence of the cranial vault and portions of the cerebrum and cerebellum. Facial structures are generally present and appear relatively normal. The cranial lesion occasionally is covered by skin, but usually it is not. When the lesion is covered with skin, prenatal screening using MSAFP is ineffective. Babies are frequently stillborn, and spontaneous abortion during pregnancy is common.
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Anencephaly is diagnosed by observation. Prenatal diagnosis may be made by ultrasound examination after 12 to 14 weeks' gestation. Prenatal diagnosis of anencephaly can ... be detected through maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening. The level of alpha-fetoprotein in the maternal blood is elevated because of the leakage of this fetal protein into the amniotic fluid.
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Anencephaly