Anencephaly

*Anencephaly facts medical author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

• Anencephaly is an example of a neural tube defect, a condition that results from an error in the first weeks of embryonic development.
• In anencephaly, the bones of the skull and brain do not develop properly. Babies with anencephaly are missing large areas of the brain and have an incomplete skull.
• Anencephaly affects about 1 out of every 1,000 pregnancies, but most cases end up as miscarriages. About 1 out of every 10,000 babies in the U.S. is born with anencephaly.
• In most cases, anencephaly is sporadic, meaning it does not run in families.
• Anencephaly is not compatible with life. Most babies with anencephaly are stillborn or die within days or hours of birth.
• The exact cause of anencephaly is unknown, but it is likely the result of an interaction among several genetic and environmental factors.

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/anencephaly/article.htm