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Congenital anomalies associated with idiopathic mental retardation

1964; Elsevier BV; Volume: 65; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0022-3476(64)80519-9

1097-6833

David W. Smith, K. Eugene Bostian,

Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

The frequency of associated congenital structural anomalies, including those which are minor in type, was determined for 50 children with idiopathic mental retardation, 50 children with ventricular septal defect, 50 children with cleft lip and palate, and 100 control children. The highest frequency of associated anomalies was found in the group with idiopathic mental retardation. The most significant difference from the control group was the proportion of mentally retarded patients having 3 or more additional defects. None of the children in the control group had this many anomalies in contrast to 42 per cent of those in the mentally retarded group, 18 percent with ventricular septal defect, and 10 per cent of those with cleft lip and palate. The finding of 3 or more associated congenital anomalies in a patient appears to indicate a significant abnormality in prenatal development. The discovery of multiple associated anomalies in a child with idiopathic mental retardation suggests, but certainly does not prove, that the defect of brain function is also a congenital abnormality. The frequency of associated congenital structural anomalies, including those which are minor in type, was determined for 50 children with idiopathic mental retardation, 50 children with ventricular septal defect, 50 children with cleft lip and palate, and 100 control children. The highest frequency of associated anomalies was found in the group with idiopathic mental retardation. The most significant difference from the control group was the proportion of mentally retarded patients having 3 or more additional defects. None of the children in the control group had this many anomalies in contrast to 42 per cent of those in the mentally retarded group, 18 percent with ventricular septal defect, and 10 per cent of those with cleft lip and palate. The finding of 3 or more associated congenital anomalies in a patient appears to indicate a significant abnormality in prenatal development. The discovery of multiple associated anomalies in a child with idiopathic mental retardation suggests, but certainly does not prove, that the defect of brain function is also a congenital abnormality.