Risk indicators of reduction limb defects.

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Abstract
The birth of a child with a reduction limb defect (RLD) was evaluated in relation to vaginal bleeding, threatened abortion and other complications of pregnancy, placental weight, birth weight, family history, parental age and the outcome of previous pregnancies. The material consisted of 453 cases of reduction limb defect and an equal number of non-malformed controls matched for time and place. The children were born in Finland during 1964-1977. The cases with reduction limb defect without additional malformations were analyzed separately. Statistically significant associations were found between the occurrence of reduction limb defect and the following risk indicators: vaginal bleeding, threatened abortion, duration of gestation < 37 wk, placental weight .ltoreq. 400 g, birth weight .ltoreq. 2500 g, and any type of malformation in the relatives. Vaginal bleeding indicated the risk of reduction limb defect to be increased .apprx. 4-fold; short gestation indicated .apprx. 2-fold risk of reduction limb defect as an isolated malformation. Both low placental weight and low birth weight were associated to a 3-fold risk of an isolated reduction limb defect. These factors of an abnormal pregnancy indicated even higher risk of reduction limb defect with additional malformations. Preliminary genetic analysis suggests that hereditary factors play no major part in the etiology of reduction limb defects.