Periconceptional maternal fever, folic acid intake, and the risk for neural tube defects.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Previous studies have shown an association between maternal fever in early pregnancy and neural tube defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida. Periconceptional folic acid intake has been shown to reduce the risk of these outcomes.

Methods

Using data from the Slone Epidemiology Center Birth Defects Study (1998-2015), we examined the impact of folic acid on the relationship between maternal fever in the periconceptional period (28 days before and after the last menstrual period) and NTDs. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Mothers of 375 cases and 8247 nonmalformed controls were included. We observed an elevated risk for NTDs for fever in the periconceptional period (OR: 2.4; 95% CI

SUBMITTER: Kerr SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5824687 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature