How Do You Diagnose Meningomyelocele?
Meningomyelocele, also known as myelomeningocele and spina bifida, is a complex defect of the neural tube. It results from a failure of the neural tube to close during the first four weeks of pregnancy and its abnormal subsequent development. Meningomyelocele is caused by both genetic and environmental factors but the most common one is a folic acid deficiency of the mother during pregnancy. Read on to learn more. Observe a midline defect with a sonogram in the posterior part of the vertebrae with a protrusion of the meninges through an external dural sac. Meningomyelocele is a congenital defect and can be diagnosed at birth or even in utero. Perform a blood test on the mother early in the second trimester. The level of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is elevated in 70 to 75 percent of the cases of meningomyelocele. Confirm a diagnosis of meningomyelocele with an amniocentesis. The amniotic fluid should have an elevated level of AFP and acetyl cholinesterase, a nerve-specific enzyme. Exp
