Anencephaly (ANPH1) is a congenital absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp. The primary abnormality is failure of cranial neurulation, the embryologic process that separates the precursors of the forebrain from amniotic fluid. Anencephaly shows a heterogeneous etiology, ranging from environmental to genetic causes. The autosomal recessive inheritance has been reported. Women with elevated levels of plasma homocysteine, low folate, or low vitamin B12 (cobalamin) are at an increased risk of having a child with neural tube defect (NTD). NTDs are the second most common type of birth defects and include anencephaly and open spina bifida [DS:H00262].
Category
Congenital malformation
Brite
Human diseases in ICD-11 classification [BR:br08403]
20 Developmental anomalies
Structural developmental anomalies primarily affecting one body system
Structural developmental anomalies of the nervous system
LA00 Anencephaly or similar anomalies
H02120 Anencephaly
