Malformaciones del sistema nervioso central en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile y maternidades chilenas participantes en el estudio colaborativo lationamericano de malformaciones congénitas, ECLAMC / Central nervous system malformations in Chilean hospitals participating in the Latin American collaborative study of congenital malformations, ECLAMC

Background: In Chile, the rates of central nervous system congenital malformations at birth remain high, when compared with the rest of the world. Aim: To report the rates of central nervous system congenital malformations in Chilean hospitals. Material and methods: Using the ECLAMC protocol, every malformed newborn or stillbirth, weighing more than 500 g at birth is registered using a standard protocol, and the next non malformed child of the same sex born in the same hospital is assigned as control. Results: The rates of central nervous system congenital malformations are higher at the University of Chile Clinical Hospital than in the rest of Chilean hospitals or Latin American Hospitals. There are significantly higher rates of anencephalia in Concepcion and spina bifida in Valdivia, Rancagua and Concepcion. In the University of Chile Clinical Hospital, global annual rates have a negative slope of -0.0259 per 1000 born alive, with a correlation coefficient of -0.125 (p <0.05). The slope is positive among children born alive, with an annual rate increase of 0.071. Among stillbirths, the slope is -0.47 per 1000 born alive. Sixty two percent of malformed children were female. Among children with neural tube defects, 30 per cent had a malformed relative and, of these, 66 per cent had the same malformation. Conclusions: Family clustering of neural tube defects, supports the influence of a genetic factor influencing their appearance

Malformaciones invalidantes en Chile: estudio ECLAMC 1982-1997 / Disabling congenital defects in Chile: ECLAMC 1982-1997

Background: The ECLAMC (Estudio Colaborativo Latinoamericano de Malformaciones Congénitas) is an epidemiological surveillance program for congenital defects that operates in Chile since 1969. Aim: To communicate the frequency of disabling congenital defects in Chile in the period 1982-1997. Material and methods: A review of the ECLAMC registry, choosing 12 congenital defects: amelia, limb amputations, limb reductions, arthrogryposis, hip luxation and subluxation, spina bifida, hydrocephaly, microcephaly, cephalocele, talipes equinovarus, Down syndrome and multiple abnormalities. Results: In the study period, 283,403 births occurred and 7,917 newborns were malformed (7,654 born alive and 263 stillbirths). The congenital defects prevalence rates appeared higher in Chile than in other Latin American countries, specially among stillbirths. Among the studied maternity hospitals, the Clinical Hospital of the University of Chile, showed the higher prevalence of congenital defects. Rancagua and the Navy Hospital in Valparaiso have a high frequency of Down syndrome. Global rates in Chile and in the rest of ECLAMC for specific defects, do not have significant differences, except for hip subluxation, that has a lower incidence in Chile. Conclusions: The ECLAMC allows to have a good knowledge of the prevalence of congenital malformations in Latin America