Anencephaly Birth Defect: Causes and Treatment

Anencephaly is a birth defect in which a fetus’s skull does not develop properly during the first month of pregnancy, and the fetus therefore develops with the brain exposed or undeveloped. The condition usually results in death within a few hours or days of birth, due to cardiorespiratory arrest.

Miscarriages are common, and anencephaly occurs in about 1 out of 10,000 births, making it a relatively common birth defect. Ultrasound tests during pregnancy or by a maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) screening can detect the condition before birth.

Anencephaly Causes

Anencephaly occurs when the neural tube does not close on the cephalic end, where the fetus’s skull would normally develop. As a result, the fetus does not develop a forebrain, which is the largest part of the brain and includes the cerebrum, thalamus, hypothalamus and the limbic system.

Anencephaly causes remain unknown, but the most common theory is that the mother’s exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticides and solvents, as well as some epilepsy medications, may be to blame. Valproic acid (VPA), a commonly suspected medication, is used as an anticonvulsant as well as a mood-stabilizer in brand-name drugs such as Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene, Depacon, Depakine, Valparin and Stavzor.

Women who plan to conceive are advised to make sure they get enough folic acid, as low levels of this B-complex vitamin have been associated with anencephaly. Insulin-dependent diabetes is also associated with a higher risk of neural tube birth defects like anencephaly.

Anencephaly Treatment

There is no cure for anencephaly, and the prognosis is death. Anencephalic treatment includes hydration, nutrition, and palliative measures, but these are only to assist with symptoms. Standard clinical procedure does not call for resuscitation. Drugs and surgery are generally regarded as futile, and most clinicians as well as medical ethicists believe that nature should be allowed to take its course in babies born with this fatal birth defect.

An Anencephaly Birth Defect Lawyer Can Help

If you or a loved one gave birth to a baby with an anencephalic birth defect, contact Chaffin Luhana LLP at (888) 480-1123 immediately for a free and confidential case review. You may be entitled to compensation, and the lawyers at Chaffin Luhana can help.