microcephaly

[‚mī·krō′sef·ə·lē]

(medicine)

The condition of having an abnormally small head, with a circumference less than two standard deviations below the mean.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Microcephaly

substantial reduction in skull and brain size in the presence of normal dimensions of other parts of the body. Microcephaly is accompanied by mental deficiency, from mild imbecility to idiocy. The causes of microcephaly are viral diseases suffered by the mother during the first three months of pregnancy, toxoplasmosis, and, sometimes, intrauterine meningoencephalitis of the fetus. The prognosis is unfavorable.

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References in periodicals archive

Indeed, Ko said, research has shown that about 4% to 6% of those studied developed microcephaly, many with abnormally small heads and partly collapsed skulls, eye problems, hearing problems, issues with joints and muscles, and severe developmental issues.

Some toddlers exposed to Zika suffer developmental problems

In his study, researchers have shown that the risk of giving birth to a child with microcephaly might be associated with how the immune system reacts against the virus specifically what kind of antibodies it produces.

Researchers find cause behind birth defects due to Zika virus

Recently a compound heterozygous mutations c.731 C > T (p.Ser 244 Leu) and c.2413 G > T (p.Glu 805 X) in the WDR62 gene responsible for the mitotic centrosomal protein WDR62, in a microcephaly family from Japanese.3 We have also reported in our recent study a missense mutation in exon 30 of WDR62changing alanine to aspartate in the protein leading to the typical MCPH2 phenotype.4 Whereas new homozygous splicing variantc.3335+1G>C in the WDR62 gene also reported recently.5 Previously pathogenic mutations reported in WDR62 include missense (e.g.

Novel compound heterozygous mutations in WDR62 gene leading to developmental delay and Primary Microcephaly in Saudi Family

On February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, in response to reported cases of microcephaly and neurological disorders and their possible association with Zika virus infection.

Ethical Issues during Zika Epidemic in Puerto Rico and the Americas

Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) is a genetically heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder with a prevalence of 1.3 to 150 per 100 000 births depending on the level of consanguinity and ethnicity.

Homozygous Nonsense Mutation in the ASPM Gene Causes MCPH in Consanguineous Pakistani Families

These findings suggest that Zika virus was the causative agent of this case of microcephaly. PW3 had a maculopapular rash without fever or conjunctivitis and received a Zika virus diagnosis at 20 weeks' gestation.

Case of Microcephaly after Congenital Infection with Asian Lineage Zika Virus, Thailand

Among the 1,386 (96%) children who did not have microcephaly detected at birth, 822 (59%) received neuroimaging, including 14 (2%) who had at least one brain anomaly identified.

Vital Signs: Zika-Associated Birth Defects and Neurodevelopmental Abnormalities Possibly Associated with Congenital Zika Virus Infection--U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States, 2018

Keywords: Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly, genotyping and ASPM.

EXCLUSION MAPPING OF FAMILIES SEGREGATING AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE MICROCEPHALY FROM DISTRICT MIRPUR AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Of the 30 women who gave birth to infants with microcephaly, 24 (80%) had Zika virus infections, compared with 39 of the 61 women (64%) in the control group (P = .12).

Case-control study points to Zika virus as cause of microcephaly

The virus has been linked to a spike in cases of microcephaly, a condition in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and possible neurological damage, sparking international concern.

NIH launches large multi-country study