Teratology

8 important questions on Teratology

Environment (teratogens, mechanical)

What are Teratogens?

Teratogens -> agents that produce birth defects

1. Critical period
2. Dose dependent
(3. Genotype dependent > multifactorial)

How can congenital anomalies be prevented?

  1. Diet (e.g. Folic acid, iodine, alcohol, smoking)
  2. Controlling pre-conceptional and gestational diabetes
  3. Avoiding exposure to hazardous substances (e.g. Some drugs)
  4. Vaccination (e.g. Rubella virus)
  5. Education to health staff

What is preconception screening?

Identify persons at risk for specific disorder (family histories)
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What are the three phases of fetal growth?

  1. Cellular hyperplasia - week 8-20: rapid mitosis and increase of DNA
  2. Both cellular hyperplasia and hypertrophy - week 20-32: less mitoses, more increase of cell size
  3. Cellular hypertrophy - Week 32-birth: rapid increase of cell size, rapid accumulation of fat, growth of muscle mass and connective tissue. The growth velocity diminishes after week 34.

What is intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) ?

  • A fetus/baby with with of less than 2500g at term
  • or < percentile 10 of the normal population
  • Higher risk perinatal mortality!

What is the Twin-Twin Transfusion syndrome (TTTS) ?

  • Vacular anastomoses (verbinding)
  • monochorial twins (up to 30%)
  • Mortality about 30%
  • severe morbidity if survival

What is Twin Reversed Arterial Perfusion Sequence (TRAP) ?

  • Monochorial twins
  • artery to artery anastomosis: if the arterial pressure in one part of a twin is higher than in the other part, there is reversal of the blood flow in the perfused (cardiac) part, the other part of the tins functions as a pump
  • mortality about 50%


Complications twinning - Discordant twins

Discordance of the weight between the 2 part of twins. Mostly visible in the last part of the second and beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy.

Monochorial twins:
placenta vascular anastomoses -> unequal blood flow between the fetuses

Dichorial twins:
genetic differences, in utero "crowding"

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