Meckel syndrome and the prenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects.

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Abstract
Two fetuses, terminated after prenatal diagnosis of aneural tube defect, had Meckel syndrome. There have now been three fetuses with this syndrome in a series of 35 terminated because of open lesions of the neural tube. It is suggested that such therapeutically aborted fetuses represent a highly selected group, among which a rare condition like Meckel syndrome will be concentrated. The need for a detailed examination of all terminated fetuses is emphasised, for the identification of such an autosomal recessive condition alters the genetic counselling for a future pregnancy.