Fertility treatments and craniosynostosis: California, Georgia, and Iowa, 1993-1997

Craniosynostosis, a malformation caused by premature closure of 1 or more cranial sutures, is a rare birth defect usually of unknown cause; however, it is often associated with advanced maternal age. Because fertility treatments are also associated with increased maternal age, this study investigate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatrics (Evanston) 2003-05, Vol.111 (5 Pt 2), p.1163-1166
Main Authors: Reefhuis, Jennita, Honein, Margaret A, Shaw, Gary M, Romitti, Paul A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abnormalities
Artificial insemination
California - epidemiology
Case-Control Studies
Clomiphene
Complications and side effects
Cranial sutures
Craniosynostoses - epidemiology
Craniosynostoses - etiology
Female
Georgia - epidemiology
Health aspects
Human reproductive technology
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Iowa - epidemiology
Male
Maternal Age
Population Surveillance
Pregnancy
Reproductive Techniques, Assisted - adverse effects
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Summary:Craniosynostosis, a malformation caused by premature closure of 1 or more cranial sutures, is a rare birth defect usually of unknown cause; however, it is often associated with advanced maternal age. Because fertility treatments are also associated with increased maternal age, this study investigated the possible association between fertility treatments and craniosynostosis. Data from the Birth Defect Risk Factor Surveillance study were used, which included infants who were delivered from 1993 through 1997 in California, Georgia, and Iowa. Cases were defined as infants who had nonfamilial, nonsyndromic craniosynostosis and were ascertained through existing birth defect surveillance systems. Controls, infants without birth defects, were selected from the same regions and time period. Mothers of 99 case infants and 777 control infants from the 3 study locations participated in this study by completing a telephone interview. Unadjusted analyses showed associations with craniosynostosis for mothers who had used clomiphene citrate (odds ratio[OR]: 3.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-12.3), artificial insemination (OR: 4.2; 95% CI: 0.8-9.4), or assisted reproductive techniques (OR: 4.2; 95% CI: 0.5-27.3). This is the first study that has found associations between fertility treatments and craniosynostosis. However, the numbers are small; therefore, the results should be viewed with caution.
ISSN:0031-4005
1098-4275