Antenatal Diagnosis of Anencephaly to Determine the Prevalence and its Correlation with Folic Acid Deficiency by Using Peripheral Blood Picture in District Poonch,Azad Kashmir

Aim: the study was carried to determine the prevalence of anencephaly in antenatal patients and its correlation with folic acid deficiency at sheikh khalifa bin zayad hospital rawalakot,district poonch azad kashmir. study design: prospective and descriptive analysis. place & duration of study: department of radiology and department of gynecology and obstetrics sheikh khalifa bin zayad hospital rawalakot,district poonch,azad kashmir from january 2013 to february 2015. methods: all the patients reporting in radiology department for antenatal ultrasonographic examination. blood sample for the cell morphology of all the patients with anomalous fetuses (subjects) as well as normal fetuses (control).was taken on the same day. peripheral blood picture showing hyper segmented neutrophils is suggestive of folic acid deficiency. results: out of a total 8960 pregnancies,1.02% (92) were diagnosed as having anencephalic fetuses on ultrasonography which was confirmed at termination of pregnancy. most of the patients (85%) were having hyper segmented neutrophils which suggest folic acid deficiency. women with normal pregnancies do have hyper segmented neutrophils but only in 7%. conclusion: anencephaly is a common congenital anomaly in district poonch of azad kashmir,having strong association with folic acid deficiency. its prevalence can be decreased by antenatal folic acid supplementation. ultrasonography is a reliable modality with 100% accuracy for prenatal diagnosis of anencephaly.