[Prenatal diagnosis of 4 cases of spina bifida in mothers treated with valproate].

The potential risk of spina bifida (SB) after fetal exposure to Valproate led the authors to apply the following protocol: in case of first trimester exposure to Valproate, prenatal diagnosis is offered and consists of both amniotic fluid examination and fetal ultrasound to detect open spina bifida. In the period 1983 to June, 1986, this program allowed early detection of three cases of SB and pregnancy termination. Another case escaped the programme: neural tube defect was detected lately and the child had to be operated upon. These four cases of SB underline the necessity of prenatal diagnosis with combined use and confrontation of ultrasound examination and biochemical amniotic fluid tests.