Could Bisphenol-A Have a Role in the Etiology of Neural Tube Defects

This prospective observational study was conducted with 92 patients aged 18 - 45 years who had amniocentesis at 15 - 22 weeks of gestation at Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital between April 15, 2021 and April 15, 2022. Patients were divided into two groups according to amniocentesis indications. Group 1: patients with abnormal maternal serum screening test or prenatal diagnosis test, patients with abnormal ultrasonography findings (45 patients), Group 2: patients with pre-diagnosis of NTD (47 patients). During the amniocentesis procedure, the first 5cc amniotic fluid and maternal serum samples were collected from the patients. The obtained samples were stored at -80°C until the end of the study. After all samples were collected, BPA values were measured by ELISA method.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients who had a single pregnancy, had a pre-diagnosis of neural tube defect or had amniocentesis between 15 and 22 weeks of age with other indications
• patients had an uncomplicated pregnancy before the procedure
• patients had no vaginal infection

Exclusion criteria

• Multiple pregnancies,
• pregnant women who developed complications due to amniocentesis
• pregnant women with known infective or autoimmune diseases before pregnancy
• those whose spouses or themselves worked in the plastics industry
• patients who could not obtain enough amniotic fluid despite meeting the study criteria during the study